Man Sentenced to 76 Years for Child Pornography

Olukeye Adeayo Olalekan has been sentenced to 76 years in prison by a Federal High Court in Lagos after being found guilty on 18 counts including child pornography, cyberstalking, money laundering, and fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Olalekan with offences such as distributing and procuring child pornography under the Cybercrimes Act, cyberstalking, unlawful retention and disguising of fraudulent proceeds under the Money Laundering Act, and obtaining property by false pretences under the Advance Fee Fraud Act.

The case gained international attention following the death of 14-year-old Robin Janjus in Canada. Investigations by the British Columbia Serious Crime Unit traced social media accounts linked to Olalekan, who impersonated a woman from North Carolina on platforms like Snapchat and Instagram to lure victims, solicit nude images, threaten them, and conduct fraudulent transactions involving cryptocurrency and gift cards.

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Olalekan initially pleaded not guilty but was convicted after the EFCC presented evidence including an undercover sting operation. The court handed down a cumulative 76-year prison sentence for all counts.

This case highlights the transnational nature of cybercrime and the cooperation between Nigerian and international law enforcement agencies in combating child exploitation and related cyber offences.