By Deborah Nnamdi
A Federal High Court in Ilorin has sentenced 23-year-old Adebisi Olalekan to two years in prison for cybercrime and ordered the forfeiture of over N124 million, a N30 million Mercedes-Benz ML350, and an iPhone 14 Pro Max to the Federal Government.
Olalekan, from Omuo-Ekiti in Ekiti East LGA, Ekiti State, was convicted on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, after pleading guilty to two counts of cyber-related offenses brought against him by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to a statement by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity for the EFCC, the case began after a tip-off from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps regarding Olalekan’s online fraud activities.
He was found to have impersonated multiple foreign nationals, including one Joshua Campbell Novak, using fake Gmail and TextPlus accounts to defraud victims between August and December 2024. Among his victims were Allisa Motazedi, defrauded of $100,000, and Brittany Boggess, who lost $1,000.
One of the charges stated that Olalekan, using false identities, obtained $100,000 from Motazedi with the intent to defraud, thereby violating sections of the Cybercrime Act of 2015.
EFCC prosecutor Sesan Ola presented evidence through investigating officer Paul Aniebonam, who detailed how Olalekan used fake online identities to scam victims. Aniebonam also confirmed that the fraud proceeds funded the purchase of the luxury SUV and that over N124 million was traced to his Wema Bank account.
Exhibits tendered in court included financial records, car documents, a mobile phone, and Olalekan’s confessional statements.
Justice Awogboro sentenced him to 12 months on each count to run concurrently and ordered the permanent forfeiture of the traced funds, the vehicle, and the phone used in the fraud.
