18-Year-Old Convicted Over $800 Lottery Scam, to Pay N1m Restitution
An 18-year-old suspected internet fraudster, Hassan Usman Olamilekan, has been convicted by the Federal High Court in Lagos for laundering $800 proceeds of a gift card scam.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) disclosed that Justice Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, convicted Olamilekan on October 30, 2026, after he pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of money laundering.
The defendant was prosecuted by the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 for allegedly disguising the origin of $800 obtained through gift cards, an offence punishable under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Delivering judgment, Justice Dipeolu sentenced him to a fine of N200,000 and directed him to pay N1 million to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The court further ordered the forfeiture of an iPhone 11 Pro and a Poco C71 mobile phone recovered during investigations.
The judge also directed that the convict remain in the correctional centre until he fulfils the financial obligations imposed by the court.
The EFCC said investigations showed that Olamilekan operated several social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Zangi and iMessage, which he allegedly used for fraudulent activities.
According to the Commission, the suspect met his victim, an American citizen identified as Gary Brewer, through the Zangi application, where he posed as a white American woman named Julie Leach.
He allegedly deceived the victim into believing that he had won a $250 million lottery prize but needed money to activate the winnings.
The victim was subsequently persuaded to send gift cards to the suspect through the application.
During investigations, Olamilekan reportedly confessed that he sold the gift cards through Cardsonic, converted the proceeds into naira and transferred the money to his grandmother’s OPay account.
He admitted benefiting $800 from the scheme.
The EFCC further stated that the convict claimed to be from the Republic of Benin but was born in Nigeria.
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.
