Sextortion Case: Lagos Court Sentences Man to 76 Years’ Imprisonment Over Teen’s Death in Canada

A federal high court in Lagos has sentenced Olukeye Adeayo Olalekan to 76 years in prison after convicting him on 18 counts related to child pornography, cyberstalking, fraud, and money laundering. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought the charges against Olalekan, whose online activities were linked to the death of a 14-year-old Canadian teenager, Robin Janjus.

According to the EFCC, Olalekan committed several offences under various Nigerian laws, including the Cybercrimes Act of 2015, the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022, and the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act of 2006. These included distributing and procuring child pornography, cyberstalking, unlawfully retaining and concealing proceeds of fraud, and obtaining property under false pretences.

The case gained international attention after Canadian police launched an investigation into Janjus’s death in British Columbia. Forensic analysis of the teen’s phone led investigators to Olalekan, who had been impersonating a young woman from North Carolina on platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat. Authorities discovered that he used fake identities to lure minors, solicit explicit images, and extort victims with threats to release the content online.

Olalekan was initially arraigned in September 2023 before Justice Y.G. Ringim, where he pleaded not guilty. The case was later reassigned and heard afresh before Justices Kehinde Ogundare and Alexander Owoeye. Despite being granted bail during the trial, the evidence—including results from an international undercover operation—ultimately led to his conviction.

The court found Olalekan guilty on all charges and handed down a cumulative sentence of 76 years in prison.