By Nkechi Eze
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of an 18-year-old suspected internet fraudster, Hassan Usman Olamilekan, for money laundering involving $800 obtained through a gift card scam.
Justice Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, convicted Olamilekan on October 30, 2026, after he pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of money laundering brought against him by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the EFCC.
According to an official statement signed by the EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the charge bordered on the indirect concealment of the origin of $800 in gift cards, which formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activities, contrary to Section 18(2)(a) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Following the defendant’s guilty plea, an EFCC operative, Ebuka Abanga, reviewed the facts of the case before the court, which subsequently found Olamilekan guilty and convicted him.
Justice Dipeolu sentenced him to a fine of N200,000 and ordered him to remit N1 million to the Federal Government as restitution. He is to remain in the correctional centre pending the payment of the fine and restitution.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of an iPhone 11 Pro and a Poco C71 mobile phone recovered in connection with the offence.
Investigation by the EFCC revealed that Olamilekan, who claimed to be from the Republic of Benin but was born in Nigeria, allegedly operated several social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Zangi and iMessage, for lottery-related scams.
The 18-year-old reportedly met his victim, an American citizen, Gary Brewer, through the Zangi application, where he allegedly impersonated a white American woman identified as Julie Leach.
He reportedly told Brewer that he had won a lottery prize of $250 million but needed money to activate the winnings before claiming the prize. He subsequently persuaded the victim to send him gift cards through the messaging platform.
The defendant 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 from a total of $800 from the fraudulent 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.
