An 18-year-old suspected internet fraudster, Hassan Usman Olamilekan, has been convicted and sentenced by a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, over a $800 gift card fraud scheme.
Justice Dipeolu handed down the conviction on October 30, 2026, after Olamilekan pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of money laundering brought against him by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The charge was filed under Section 18(2)(a) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
According to the EFCC, Olamilekan was accused of disguising the origin of $800 in gift cards, which were proceeds of his alleged fraudulent activities.
Following his guilty plea, an EFCC operative, Ebuka Abanga, reviewed the facts of the case before the court found him guilty and convicted him accordingly.
The judge sentenced him to a fine of ₦200,000 and ordered him to pay ₦1 million to the Federal Government of Nigeria as restitution. He was also directed to remain in the correctional centre pending the payment of the fine and restitution.
The court further ordered the forfeiture of an iPhone 11 Pro and a Poco C71 mobile phone recovered in connection with the offence.
Investigations by the EFCC reportedly revealed that Olamilekan, who claimed to be from the Republic of Benin but was born in Nigeria, operated several social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Zangi and iMessage, which he allegedly used for fraudulent activities.
The commission disclosed that he met his victim, identified as Gary Brewer, a United States citizen, through the Zangi application, where he allegedly impersonated an American woman named Julie Leach.
He reportedly told the victim that he had won a $250 million lottery prize but needed money to activate the winnings before he could access the funds.
Olamilekan subsequently persuaded the victim to send him gift cards through the messaging application.
The defendant reportedly admitted selling the gift cards through the Cardsonic application, converting the proceeds into naira and transferring the money to his grandmother’s OPay account. He also confessed to benefiting $800 from the scheme.
Olamilekan was among 21 suspected internet fraudsters arrested by EFCC operatives during a sting operation at Applewood Estate, Orchid Road, Lekki, Lagos State, on October 26, 2026.
The arrest formed part of the commission’s ongoing efforts to tackle internet fraud and other financial crimes across the country.
