A Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, has sentenced 23-year-old Adebisi Olalekan to two years in prison for cybercrime-related offences, including impersonation and cheating. Justice Abimbola Awogboro handed down the judgment on Wednesday, convicting the serial internet fraudster without the option of a fine.
Olalekan, a native of Omuo-Ekiti in Ekiti State, was found guilty on two counts filed by the Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In addition to the jail term, the court ordered the forfeiture of N124,402,322 found in Olalekan’s Wema Bank account, a Mercedes Benz ML350 valued at N30 million, and an iPhone 14 Pro Max used to commit the offences.
Investigations revealed that Olalekan assumed multiple fake identities, including that of a U.S. national named Joshua Compbell Novak, using fraudulent Gmail and TextPlus accounts between August and December 2024. He defrauded victims such as Allisa Motazedi and Brittany Boggess of $100,000 and $1,000, respectively.
One of the charges stated:
“That you, Adebisi Emmanuel Olalekan, between August 2024 and December 2024 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated one Joshua Compbell 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 charges.
During the trial, EFCC counsel Sesan Ola presented evidence through lead investigator Paul Aniebonam, who detailed how the convict used fake online personas to scam unsuspecting foreigners. Aniebonam confirmed that proceeds from the fraud were used to purchase the luxury SUV and fund other transactions, with over N124 million traced to his bank account.
Key exhibits, including account statements, car documents, mobile devices, and multiple confessional statements by the convict, were tendered in court.
Justice Awogboro sentenced Olalekan to 12 months on each count, to run consecutively. The judge also granted a final forfeiture of all assets linked to the crime to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
