A 27-year-old Nigerian man has been sentenced to 76 years, to be served concurrently, following a 2023 financial sextortion investigation which began in Surrey.
On February 13, 2023, Surrey RCMP frontline officers responded to a report of a sudden death of a male youth at residence. The preliminary investigation determined the youth had been a victim of financial sextortion and an investigation was immediately launched.
In the days that followed, the Surrey RCMP Serious Crime Unit took conduct of this investigation named Project Epa. Investigators collected credible evidence indicating the youth had been tricked into sending explicit photos to a suspect online who posed as a teenage girl.
The suspect then blackmailed the youth with threats to share the photos with his family and friends unless he complied with demands of purchasing gift cards and sending them to the suspect.
In May 2023, Surrey RCMP investigators identified two suspects involved and determined they were operating in Nigeria. Surrey RCMP joined forces with domestic and international law enforcement partners to investigate Project Epa and provide assistance on a larger-scale, international police operation, targeting financial sextortion suspects in Nigeria.
On July 28, 2023, Surrey RCMP investigators travelled to Lagos, Nigeria where they worked collaboratively with the FBI, the Australian Federal Police (AFP), and the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC- Nigerian Federal Law Enforcement Agency).
The EFCC launched a parallel investigation into the suspects identified during Project Epa and in August, 2023, the EFCC with assistance from the Surrey RCMP, arrested two men.
On June 19, 2025, Olukeye Adedayo Olalekan was convicted and sentenced to 76 years imprisonment in Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria. Olukeye Adedayo Olalekan was charged with 18 criminal charges including transmission of child pornography, fraudulent impersonation and sextortion.
He was sentenced to two years imprisonment on counts one to four of procuring, distributing of child pornography and cyberstalking; four years imprisonment on counts five to 14 of retention and disguising the origin of proceeds of fraud, without an option of fine; seven years imprisonment on counts 15 to 18 of obtaining property under false pretences, without an option of fine. The sentences are to run concurrently.
“The conviction and sentencing of Olukeye Adeayo Olalekan is the result of an intense year-long international investigation,” says Superintendent Darren Schneider, Investigative Services Officer for the RCMP Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit. “This outcome came from collaborative efforts from the Surrey RCMP, the FBI, the Australian Federal Police and the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC – Nigerian Federal Law Enforcement Agency). We are grateful to the many partners and agencies who assisted with this investigation. We believe this case delivers a strong message that sextortions and fraud will not be tolerated in our community.”
The RCMP say they extend their thoughts to the family and friends of the young victim in this file, and hope that the conclusion of the court process provides them closure.
For more information regarding financial sextortion, visit https://rcmp.ca/en/bc/safety-tips/online-safety/what-sexting
