According to the Punch,Adebisi Olalekan, a 23-year-old internet fraudster from Ekiti State, was sentenced to 24 months in prison by Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Ilorin.
The court gave the sentence without an option to pay a fine. Olalekan was found guilty of two cybercrime offenses, including cheating and impersonation, after being charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Ilorin.
The case started after the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps reported Olalekan’s online scams to the EFCC. Between August and December 2024, Olalekan pretended to be several foreign people, including a man named Joshua Campbell Novak.
He used fake Gmail and TextPlus accounts to trick victims into giving him money. Two victims, Allisa Motazedi and Brittany Boggess, lost $100,000 and $1,000 because of his scams and Olalekan admitted guilt to both charges.
During the trial, the EFCC lawyer and an investigating officer explained how Olalekan created fake online identities to cheat people.They showed proof that Olalekan used the money he stole to buy a luxury car in October 2024.
They also found over N124 million in his bank account from similar illegal activities. Evidence presented included his bank statements, car papers, phone, and statements he made to the police.
The judge sentenced Olalekan to one year in prison for each charge, to be served at the same time. The court also ordered that all his illegal earnings be taken by the Nigerian government.
This includes the N124 million in his bank account, a white Mercedes Benz ML350 worth about N30 million, and an iPhone 14 Pro Max that he used to carry out the fraudulent crimes.
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