EFCC Arraigns Nigerian Man For Alleged S*xtortion Of Canadian Teenager

The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has brought charges against a suspect named Olalekan Olukeye. These charges include 18 counts related to child pornography, money laundering, and the possession of proceeds from illicit activities.

In a statement released on Saturday, September 30, the acting Head, Media and Publicity of the anti-graft agency, Dele Oyewale, said Olukeye was arraigned before Justice Tijani Ringim of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos on Friday, September 29.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Olukeye Adedayo Olalekan (a.k.a hrm877, charlotte 708 and harlilott_716) on or about the 13th February, 2023 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court intentionally used the Instagram virtual network to create a group " Expose Janjuarobin Nudes" to distribute child pornography and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 23(1) (c) and punishable under Section 23(1)(e) of the of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015.”

He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges preferred against him. In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo , SAN, prayed the court for an accelerated trial and remand of the defendant in a Correctional Centre.

While praying for an accelerated hearing of the matter, Oyedepo stated that “the international image of Nigeria is in jeopardy, as both the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, RCMP, and the FBI complained to Nigeria about this matter and how it relates to the sudden death of a 14-year-old minor."

Counsel to the defendant, P.O Onikoyin, informed the court that he had an application for bail on behalf of his client.

Responding, Oyedepo told the court that he had just been served the application and would need time to respond to it. Consequently, the Judge ordered that the defendant be remanded  in a Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter till November 6 and 9, 2023 for hearing of motions and commencement of trial.

The suspect was arrested by operatives of the EFCC on August 4, 2023 in the Akute area of Ogun State, following intelligence received from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, RCMP, by the Commission. He allegedly hacked into some social media accounts, posing as a young attractive woman to entice unsuspecting victims, and seeking their sexually explicit photographs, including nude images of a 14-year-old Canadian boy.

Investigation revealed that the suspect later used the nude images of the 14-year-old to blackmail him, a situation that led to his death.

During a search conducted on his residence in Ilaro, Ogun State by operatives of the EFCC, a mobile phone with incriminating documents was recovered from him.