Internet fraudster gets 24 months’ jail, forfeits N124m illicit proceeds
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
A court has sentenced internet fraudster Adebisi Olalekan, 23, to 24 months in jail without the option of fine and ordered him to forfeit N124 million illegal proceeds, in a case prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Olalekan, a native of Omuo-Ekiti in Ekiti East Counsil of Ekiti, was convicted at the Federal High Court in Ilorin which found him guilty of two counts of cybercrime involving cheating and impersonation.
A statement issued by EFCC Ilorin Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, said the case originated from a report by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) which alerted the EFCC to Olalekan’s cybercrimes.
The court heard how the convict impersonated several foreign nationals, including Joshua Campbell Novak, through fake Gmail and TextPlus accounts between August and December 2024.
Through these fraudulent identities, Olalekan defrauded victims, among them Allisa Motazedi of $100,000, and Brittany Boggess of $1,000.
One of the charges read:
“That you, Adebisi Emmanuel Olalekan, between August 2024 and December 2024 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated one Joshua Campbell Novak via your Gmail account and TextPlus number with the intent to obtain a total sum of $100,000 from Allisa Motazedi, which you did obtain, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2)(b)(IV) of the same Act.”
Olalekan pleaded guilty to both counts.
But EFCC counsel Sesan Ola led investigating officer Paul Aniebonam in evidence who narrated how the convict created faked online profiles to deceive and defraud foreign victims.
Aniebonam told the court that Olalekan used the proceeds of the fraudulent activities to acquire a luxury vehicle in October 2024, with more than N124 million in his bank account traced to similar illicit transactions.
He also tendered exhibits including the bank statement, car documents, mobile device, and four extrajudicial statements made by Olalekan.
Judged Awogboro sentenced Olalekan to 12 months imprison on each count, to run concurrently, and granted the final forfeiture of all his traced assets to the Federal Government.
The court ordered the forfeiture of N124,402,322 found in Olalekan’s Wema Bank account, a white Mercedes Benz ML350 valued at N30 million, and an iPhone 14 Pro Max used in perpetrating the crimes.
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