Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Thursday, June 19, 2025, convicted and sentenced one Olukeye Adedayo Olalekan to 76 years imprisonment for multiple cybercrime offences.
Adedayo was arraigned in 2024 by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an 18-count charge bordering on the transmission of child pornography, fraudulent impersonation, and sextortion to the tune of ₦721,500 (Seven Hundred and Twenty-One Thousand, Five Hundred Naira).
One of the charges reads:
“That you, Olukeye Adedayo Olalekan (a.k.a hrm87, charlotte708, and harlilott_716), on or about the 13th of February, 2023, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, intentionally used the Instagram virtual network to create a group titled ‘Expose Janjua Robin Nudes’ to distribute child pornography, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 23(1)(c) and punishable under Section 23(1)(e) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015.”
He pleaded “not guilty” to all charges, prompting a full trial which commenced on June 5, 2024.
During the trial, prosecution counsel Bilikisu Buhari called two witnesses: Wahid Hamidi, a Police Sergeant with the Serious Crime Unit of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and Saidu Yakubu, an operative of the EFCC. The court also admitted several pieces of evidence presented by the prosecution.
In his judgment, Justice Owoeye found the defendant guilty on all 18 counts and sentenced him as follows:
- Two years imprisonment each on counts 1 to 4 for procuring and distributing child pornography and cyberstalking;
- Four years each on counts 5 to 14 for the retention and concealment of proceeds of fraud, without the option of a fine;
- Seven years each on counts 15 to 18 for obtaining property under false pretences, also without the option of a fine.
Although the cumulative sentence totals 76 years, the judge ruled that the sentences are to run concurrently.
Adedayo’s conviction followed his arrest and prosecution for using Instagram to create and operate a group dedicated to sharing explicit content involving minors. Local and international witnesses, including Canadian authorities, testified against him, leading to his eventual conviction.