The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of an 18-year-old man, Hassan Usman Olamilekan, for money laundering linked to a gift card fraud scheme targeting an American victim.

Olamilekan was convicted and sentenced on Friday, October 30, 2026, by Justice Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, after pleading guilty to a one-count charge of money laundering.

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The charge was brought under Section 18(2)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and involved the concealment of the origin of $800 in gift cards obtained through unlawful activities.

According to reports, the defendant operated lottery scams across several social media and messaging platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Zangi and iMessage.

He reportedly contacted an American man, identified as Gary Brewer, through Zangi, while impersonating a white American woman named Julie Leach.

Olamilekan allegedly told Brewer that he had won a $250 million lottery prize but needed to purchase gift cards to activate the supposed winnings.

After obtaining the cards, the defendant reportedly sold them through Cardsonic, converted the proceeds into naira and transferred the money to his grandmother’s OPay account.

He admitted making $800 from the fraudulent scheme.

The EFCC disclosed that Olamilekan was among 21 suspects arrested during an operation conducted by its Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 at Applewood Estate, Orchid Road, Lekki, on October 26, 2026.

The operation targeted suspected cybercriminals involved in gift card fraud, cryptocurrency-related offences and online impersonation.

Nineteen of the suspects were subsequently indicted, while five exotic cars were also recovered during the operation.

In its judgment, the court imposed a fine of ₦200,000 on Olamilekan and ordered him to remit ₦1 million to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

He was also ordered to remain in a correctional centre until the fine and restitution were fully paid.

Additionally, the court ordered the forfeiture of an iPhone 11 Pro and a Poco C71 recovered in connection with the case.

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The conviction represents one of the early court outcomes following the EFCC’s October 26 operation at Applewood Estate, as the commission continues its investigation and prosecution of suspected cybercrime activities.