Court Orders 18-Year-Old Fraudster To Pay N1.2m Over $800 Scam

An 18-year-old suspected internet fraudster, Hassan Usman Olamilekan, has been sentenced to a fine of N200,000 and ordered to pay N1 million to the Federal Government after admitting to defrauding an American citizen of $800 through a fake $250 million lottery scheme.

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 Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale.

The teenager reportedly impersonated a white American woman identified as Julie Leach on the Zangi messaging application to deceive his victim, Gary Brewer, a United States citizen.

He allegedly told Brewer that he had won a $250 million lottery prize but needed money to activate the winnings before he could access the funds.

Using the fabricated lottery story, Olamilekan persuaded thd himworth of gift cards gift cards worth $800 through the messaging platform.

According to the EFCC, the defendant admitted selling the gift cards through the Cardsonic application, converting the proceeds into naira and transferring the money into his grandmother’s OPay account.

He also confessed to benefiting from $800 from the fraudulent transaction.

The commission said Olamilekan operated several social media and messaging platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Zangi and iMessage, as part of his fraudulent activities.

The court convicted him for indirectly disguising the origin of $800 in gift cards, contrary to Section 18(2)(a) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

In addition to the N200,000 fine, Justice Dipeolu ordered him to remit N1 million to the Federal Government.

The judge further ordered the forfeiture of an iPhone 11 Pro and a Poco C71 mobile phone recovered in connection with the offence.

Olamilekan is to remain in the correctional centre pending payment of the fine and restitution.

The EFCC said the 18-year-old, who claimed to be from the Republic of Benin but was born in Nigeria, was among 21 suspected internet fraudsters arrested during a sting operation at Applewood Estate, Orchid Road, Lekki, Lagos State, on October 26, 2026.

The arrest followed an operation by operatives of the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 1.