Viral
Lagos Court Jails 18-Year-Old Over $800 Gift Card Fraud
EFCC says defendant impersonated an American woman to defraud a US citizen through a fake $250 million lottery scheme.
The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has convicted an 18-year-old man, Hassan Usman Olamilekan, for money laundering involving an $800 gift card fraud.
Justice Dipeolu delivered the judgment on October 30, 2026, after Olamilekan pleaded guilty to a one-count charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The charge alleged that the defendant disguised the origin of $800 obtained through gift cards in 2026, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
In addition to imposing a ₦200,000 fine, the court ordered Olamilekan to pay ₦1 million in restitution to the Federal Government. He is to remain in the 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 offence.
According to the EFCC, investigations revealed that Olamilekan allegedly operated several social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Zangi and iMessage, which were linked to lottery scams.
The commission said the defendant met his victim, an American citizen identified as Gary Brewer, on the Zangi messaging application, where he allegedly impersonated a white American woman named Julie Leach.
He reportedly convinced the victim that he had won a $250 million lottery prize but needed to pay certain charges to activate the winnings before claiming the money.
The EFCC stated that Olamilekan persuaded Brewer to send gift cards, which he later sold through the Cardsonic application and converted into naira.
The defendant reportedly admitted transferring the proceeds to his grandmother’s OPay account and receiving $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 State, on October 26, 2026.
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