A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, the Centre of Excellence (Lagos), on Thursday, sentenced a man, Olukeye Adedayo Olalekan, to 76 years behind bars after he was found guilty of multiple internet-related crimes, including the distribution of child pornography, online impersonation, and sextortion.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, confirmed that Adedayo was first arraigned in 2024 on an 18-count charge. The offences spanned various cybercrimes, with the fraudulent activities reportedly amounting to N721,500.
Court documents revealed that Adedayo, who used aliases such as “hrm87,” “charlotte708,” and “harlilott_716,” created a group on Instagram titled “Expose Janjua Robin Nudes” to circulate illicit materials involving minors. One of the charges stated that he used the platform on February 13, 2023, to intentionally disseminate child pornography—a clear violation of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
He initially pleaded not guilty, prompting a full trial that began on June 5, 2024. During proceedings, the EFCC presented key witnesses, including Sergeant Wahid Hamidi of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and its operative, Saidu Yakubu. The court admitted various pieces of evidence that strengthened the prosecution’s case.
In his judgment, Justice Alexander Owoeye found Adedayo guilty on all 18 counts. The court handed him two years each on counts one to four related to child pornography and cyberstalking; four years each on counts five to fourteen for retaining and concealing proceeds of crime; and seven years each on counts fifteen to eighteen for obtaining property by false pretence. The jail terms will run concurrently.
The verdict followed testimony from both local and international investigators, whose contributions were pivotal in securing the conviction.
