A Federal High Court in Lagos State has sentenced Olukeye Adeayo Olalekan to 76 years in prison after finding him guilty of offences including child pornography, cyberstalking, money laundering, and fraud.

Justice Alexander Owoeye delivered the verdict on Thursday after convicting Olalekan on all charges.

He was arraigned on 18 counts involving the “distribution and procurement of child pornography”, “cyberstalking”, “retention and concealment of fraudulent funds”, and “obtaining property under false pretences”, as filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Prosecuting counsel Bilkisu Buhari-Bala stated that the offences violated Sections 23(1)(c) and 23(1)(f), punishable under Section 23(1), 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015, as well as Sections relating to “retention of proceeds of fraud” and punishable under relevant parts of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Olalekan had initially entered a not guilty plea on September 6, 2023, before Justice Y.G. Ringim.

The matter was later reassigned and heard afresh before Justice Kehinde Ogundare, and again before Justice Owoeye.

During the trial, the EFCC called five witnesses, including two investigators whose evidence was central to the conviction.

Buhari revealed that the British Columbia Serious Crime Unit had begun investigating the murder of 14-year-old Robin Janjus, who was discovered dead at home.

“Digital forensics on the victim’s phone led authorities to social media accounts operated by the convict.”

“An undercover operation was subsequently launched, revealing that the convict had posed as a female from North Carolina.”

“Through platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram, he solicited and obtained property under false pretences, threatened to transmit nude images of minors, and engaged in multiple fraudulent transactions involving gift cards and cryptocurrency,” she added.

Justice Owoeye ruled Olalekan guilty on all charges and sentenced him to a cumulative total of 76 years in prison.

Nigerian singer and songwriter, Adekunle Gold, has introduced a free healthcare insurance programme called ‘5 Star Care’ to assist individuals living with sickle cell.

He made the announcement on Thursday via Instagram in honour of World Sickle Cell Day.

According to him, the initiative is “starting small” by offering free health insurance to 1,000 sickle cell warriors, aiming to ease the cost of managing the condition.

In his post, Adekunle Gold stated, “Today is World Sickle Cell Day. And today, I’m proud to announce something that’s deeply personal to me. We’re starting small by providing free health insurance to 1,000 people living with sickle cell in Lagos State. But this is only the beginning.

“5 Star Care isn’t just an initiative, it’s a promise. A promise to make sure that sickle cell warriors are seen, heard, and cared for.”

In a video shared alongside the post, the artist — who has previously spoken about living with sickle cell — explained that the programme is being launched through the Adekunle Gold Foundation, in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Health, the Lagos State Health Management Agency, and the Sickle Cell Management Initiatives.

He said, “We believe that every life deserves a 5-star care, no matter where you’re from, what you earn, or what you’re going through.”

He added, “Our goal is simple: to ease the financial burden of managing sickle cell and help more people get the quality care they deserve without stress. And as somebody who’s walked this path, I know how powerful it is to have the right support.”

Adekunle Gold also encouraged eligible individuals to register through the foundation’s website, noting that the effort is only just beginning.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has accepted into evidence a report from the Department of State Services which allegedly associates Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, with the deaths of 186 police officers and the destruction of 164 police stations during the #EndSARS protests.

Justice James Omotoso admitted the report during Thursday’s resumed hearing in Kanu’s terrorism trial.

The prosecuting counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), presented the report through the fifth prosecution witness, identified as Mr EEE for security reasons.

EEE, a DSS operative, said he was part of a team deployed across the South-East and other regions to gather intelligence and compile reports on the violence that followed the #EndSARS movement.

“I know the defendant through the media. I have never met him face-to-face,” the witness stated.

He explained that his role involved collecting records of property damage and deaths of security personnel allegedly provoked by Kanu’s statements.

The court accepted a damage assessment report, death certificates of some officers, and a certificate of compliance, all presented by Awomolo through the witness.

While the defence contested the admissibility of the documents, arguments on the matter were deferred.

The witness said the unrest led to 186 police deaths, 37 military casualties, and 10 DSS operatives killed. He added that 164 police stations and nine INEC facilities were destroyed in 17 states including Lagos, Abia, Anambra, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, and Rivers, allegedly due to Kanu’s inciting remarks.

During cross-examination, defence counsel Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) questioned the reliability of the report and the justification for linking Kanu to the events.

“You were not part of the investigation into the defendant himself, correct?” Ikpeazu asked.

“I was tasked to investigate the destruction of public property based on the statements of the defendant. He gave instructions to IPOB members to kill officers,” EEE replied.

Ikpeazu queried whether Kanu’s remarks were tied directly to the #EndSARS protests or IPOB actions and also asked if activist Aisha Yesufu was investigated.

“My assignment was not to investigate Biafra or individuals like Aisha Yesufu but to assess damage from the #EndSARS protest,” the witness responded.

He noted that although the protests stemmed from “organic issues like police brutality,” they were “hijacked by subversive elements” who stirred violence against the state.

When asked for specifics, the witness acknowledged he could not pinpoint any section in the report that directly linked the deaths to IPOB members. “It is a voluminous document. There is no single caption that links deaths directly to IPOB on any page,” he said.

Ikpeazu pointed out flaws in the report, such as missing photo dates, lack of signatures, and absent information about the deceased and the medical examiners. The witness admitted the report was certified in his capacity as secretary, but he did not personally sign it.

“You did not sign this report. In fact, none of the photographs show the dates they were taken,” Ikpeazu said, implying the report was prepared after the trial began, a claim the witness denied.

Prosecuting counsel Chief Awomolo (SAN) stated that evidence had been successfully presented and urged the court to consider the prosecution’s prayers.

Kanu’s lawyer, Kanu Agabi (SAN), entered a no-case submission and indicated they would proceed to make their case.

The court gave both parties 14 days to file written arguments on the no-case submission and two additional days for legal replies.

Justice Omotoso scheduled July 18 for the adoption of the no-case submission.