EFCC Secures Conviction of 18-Year-Old Over $800 Lottery Scam, Court Orders N1m Payment

An 18-year-old suspected internet fraudster, Hassan Usman Olamilekan, has been convicted and sentenced by the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, over a $800 gift card money laundering scheme involving a United States citizen.

Justice Dipeolu 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 Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The charge bordered on disguising the origin of $800 in gift cards allegedly obtained through unlawful activities, contrary to Section 18(2)(a) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Following his guilty plea, an EFCC operative, Ebuka Abanga, reviewed the facts of the case before the court found him guilty and convicted him.

Justice Dipeolu sentenced the defendant to a fine of N200,000 and ordered him to pay N1 million to the Federal Government as restitution. He is to remain in a correctional centre pending 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 fraudulent activities.

EFCC investigations 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, to perpetrate lottery-related fraud.

The 18-year-old reportedly targeted an American citizen, Gary Brewer, whom he met on the Zangi application. He allegedly impersonated a white American woman identified as Julie Leach and convinced the victim that he had won a staggering $250 million lottery prize.

Under the guise that money was required to activate the supposed winnings before they could be released, Olamilekan allegedly persuaded Brewer to send him gift cards.

The defendant reportedly 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 confessed to receiving a total benefit of $800 from the scheme.

Olamilekan was among 21 suspected internet fraudsters arrested by EFCC operatives during a sting operation at Applewood Estate, Orchid Road, Lekki, Lagos, on October 26, 2026.

His conviction comes just four days after the arrest, highlighting the EFCC’s ongoing crackdown on internet fraud and related financial crimes.