Lagos court convicts 18-year-old in $800 gift-card case

An 18-year-old man was convicted of money laundering after pleading guilty to a charge involving $800 in gift cards, and a Lagos court ordered him to pay a fine and restitution and forfeit two phones. Justice Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi convicted Hassan Usman Olamilekan on October 30, 2026, after his plea to a one-count charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The charge alleged that he disguised the origin of $800 in gift cards, described as proceeds of unlawful activity, contrary to Section 182a and punishable under Section 183 of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022. The court imposed a ₦200,000 fine and ordered Olamilekan to pay ₦1 million in restitution to the Federal Government. It also ordered the forfeiture of an iPhone 11 Pro and a Poco C71 recovered in connection with the offence. He was to remain in custody pending payment of the fine and restitution. According to the EFCC’s account of the investigation, Olamilekan contacted Gary Brewer, a U.S. citizen, through the Zangi messaging application while posing as a woman named Julie Leach. The agency said Olamilekan told Brewer he had won a lottery prize...