A Lagos State High Court has handed down a 76-year prison sentence to Olukeye Adedayo Olalekan after finding him guilty of multiple serious offences including child pornography, cyberstalking, money laundering, and fraud.
Olalekan was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an 18-count charge. Justice Alexander Owoeye, who presided over the case, ruled that the prosecution had proven beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the alleged criminal acts.
Exploitation of Minors and Online Platforms
According to evidence presented in court, Olalekan exploited Instagram by creating a group titled "Expose Janjua Robin Nudes," which he used to distribute explicit materials involving minors. The court heard that on February 13, 2023, within Lagos jurisdiction, the convict, who operated under multiple aliases including hrm87, charlotte708, and harlilott_716, intentionally created the group for circulating child pornography.
These actions violated sections of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, the court determined.
Breakdown of the Sentence
In his judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice Owoeye found Olalekan guilty on all 18 counts and imposed the following sentences:
Two-year sentences each on counts one through four, relating to procuring and distributing child pornography, and cyberstalking
Four-year sentences each on counts five to fourteen, involving retention and concealment of proceeds from fraud, with no option of fine
Seven-year sentences each on counts fifteen through eighteen, relating to obtaining property under false pretences, also without the option of fine
The cumulative sentence amounts to 76 years, marking one of the stiffest penalties handed down for cybercrimes involving minors in recent times.
This case highlights the growing concern over online exploitation of minors and the increasing efforts by Nigerian authorities to crack down on cybercrimes, particularly those targeting vulnerable individuals.
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