In a verdict described as a significant win for global child protection and cybercrime enforcement, a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has sentenced Olukeye Adeayo Olalekan to 76 years in prison for a sweeping range of digital and financial crimes that spanned international borders and ended in tragedy.

Justice Alexander Owoeye handed down the sentence after Olalekan was found guilty on 18 counts brought against him by Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The charges included child pornography, cyberstalking, fraud, and money laundering, as the EFCC prosecuted Olalekan for offences that include:

• Distribution and procurement of child pornography

• Cyberstalking

• Obtaining property under false pretences

• Concealing proceeds of fraudulent activities

These crimes were in direct violation of Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act (2015), Money Laundering Act (2022), and the Advance Fee Fraud Act (2006).

The defendant was first arraigned before Justice Y.G. Ringim on September 6, 2023, before the case was reassigned and heard anew before Justices Kehinde Ogundare and ultimately Alexander Owoeye in Lagos.

The investigation into Olalekan’s crimes began thousands of miles away, in British Columbia, Canada, following the tragic death of 14-year-old Robin Janjus, who was found lifeless in his home. A digital forensics investigation led Canadian authorities to several social media accounts operated by Olalekan.

Masquerading as a young woman from North Carolina, he used platforms like Snapchat and Instagram to lure and exploit minors. He solicited explicit content from underage individuals, threatened to release compromising images, and conducted fraudulent transactions involving cryptocurrency and gift cards.

Through a cross-border effort, including undercover operations, authorities uncovered a web of deceit and exploitation spanning continents.

Though the case stemmed from a heartbreaking loss, the conviction marks a critical step forward in combating digital crimes against children and vulnerable people. It highlights the potential of collaborative justice, where law enforcement agencies across the globe unite to bring criminals to book.

This case reminds us all that while the internet can be a tool for exploitation, it can also be a place where justice is traced, pursued, and ultimately served.