A man, Olukeye Adedayo Olalekan, has veen dragged before the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State, over allegations bordering on child pornography, money laundering and retention of proceeds of unlawful activities.
Olalekan was charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Lagos Zonal Command, following intelligence received from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
Confirming this, the EFCC Acting Head, Media and Publicity, Mr Dele Oyewale, said the suspect was arrested on August 4, 2023 in the Akute area of Ogun State.
According to Oyewale, the suspect is facing an 18 count-charge.
He said Olalekan reportedly hacked into some social media accounts, posing as a young attractive woman to entice unsuspecting victims, and sought their sexually explicit photographs, including nude images of a 14-year-old Canadian boy.
The EFCC spokesperson further explained that investigation revealed that the suspect later used the nude images of the 14-year-old to blackmail him, a development that led to his death.
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He added that during a search conducted in his residence in Ilaro, Ogun State, by operatives of the EFCC, a mobile phone with vital documents was recovered from him.
According to the statement, one of the counts read: “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.”
The suspect 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.”
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.