A 23-year-old internet fraudster, Adebisi Olalekan, has been sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to forfeit over N124 million, a Mercedes-Benz ML350 worth N30 million, and an iPhone 14 Pro Max to the Federal Government by the Federal High Court in Ilorin, Kwara State.
Olalekan, a native of Omuo-Ekiti in Ekiti State, was convicted on Wednesday after pleading guilty to charges of cybercrime, including cheating and impersonation.
He was found guilty of defrauding foreign nationals between August and December 2024, using fake identities to steal substantial amounts of money from his victims.
The case stemmed from a report filed by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) that alerted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to Olalekan’s fraudulent activities.
Olalekan used fake Gmail and TextPlus accounts to impersonate individuals, including Joshua Compbell Novak, and defrauded victims such as Allisa Motazedi and Brittany Boggess of $100,000 and $1,000, respectively.
In the ruling, Justice Awogboro sentenced Olalekan to 12 months imprisonment on each of the two counts, to run concurrently.
He also ordered that all assets traced to his fraudulent activities be forfeited to the Federal Government.
These assets include N124,402,322 found in his Wema Bank account, the luxury Mercedes-Benz ML350 he purchased with the illicit funds in October 2024, and the iPhone 14 Pro Max used to carry out his crimes.
The EFCC’s counsel, Sesan Ola, presented key evidence, including the bank statements, car documents, mobile device, and four extra-judicial statements made by Olalekan.
The investigating officer, Paul Aniebonam, confirmed that the proceeds from Olalekan’s fraudulent activities were used to acquire the vehicle, further implicating him in the financial crimes.
The judgment serves as a strong reminder of the government’s commitment to tackling cybercrime and its impact on both domestic and international victims.
Olalekan’s conviction and asset forfeiture underline the growing efforts of the EFCC in curbing the menace of internet fraud in Nigeria.
