Olalekan was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to surrender N124,402,322 (One Hundred and Twenty-Four Million, Four Hundred and Two Thousand, Three Hundred and Twenty-Two Naira), the Mercedes-Benz ML350, and the iPhone 14 Pro Max used in committing the offenses.
A Federal High Court in Ilorin has sentenced 23-year-old internet fraudster Adebisi Olalekan to two years’ imprisonment and ordered the forfeiture of assets valued at over N154 million to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The court mandated Olalekan to forfeit N124 million in cash, a white Mercedes-Benz ML350 valued at N30 million, and an iPhone 14 Pro Max, all linked to his criminal activities.
Olalekan, originally from Omuo-Ekiti in Ekiti East Local Government Area of Ekiti State, was convicted on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, following a trial that found him guilty of two counts related to cybercrime offenses, including cheating and impersonation.
These charges were brought against him by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to a statement released by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity for the EFCC, the investigation began after a tip-off from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, which alerted the EFCC about Olalekan’s fraudulent online activities.
The convict was accused of impersonating various foreign nationals, notably one Joshua Campbell Novak, through fraudulent Gmail and TextPlus accounts between August and December 2024. Using these fake identities, Olalekan defrauded victims including Allisa Motazedi and Brittany Boggess of $100,000 and $1,000 respectively.
One of the formal charges read: “That you, Adebisi Emmanuel Olalekan, between August 2024 and December 2024 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated one Joshua Campbell Novak via your Gmail account and TextPlus number with the intent to obtain a total sum of $100,000 from Allisa Motazedi, which you did obtain, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention) Act, 2015, and punishable under Section 22(2)(b)(IV) of the same Act.” Olalekan pleaded guilty to both counts.
Following his plea, EFCC counsel Sesan Ola called an investigating officer, Paul Aniebonam, to present evidence detailing how Olalekan created fake online profiles to deceive and defraud unsuspecting foreign victims.
Aniebonam testified that the proceeds from these fraudulent activities were used to purchase the luxury vehicle in October 2024, and traced over N124 million in Olalekan’s bank account to similar illicit transactions.
Key exhibits were presented in court, including bank statements, car ownership documents, the mobile device used in the crimes, and four extra-judicial statements made by Olalekan.
Justice Awogboro sentenced Olalekan to 12 months’ imprisonment for each count, with the sentences to run concurrently. Additionally, the court granted the forfeiture of all assets linked to the fraud to the Federal Government.
Olalekan was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to surrender N124,402,322 (One Hundred and Twenty-Four Million, Four Hundred and Two Thousand, Three Hundred and Twenty-Two Naira), the Mercedes-Benz ML350, and the iPhone 14 Pro Max used in committing the offenses.
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