In a swift dispensation of justice, the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday, June 16, 2025, convicted and sentenced a staff of Ecobank Nigeria Plc, Solomon Stephen Ufayo, to one year imprisonment for cybercrime involving #2,404,000 fraudulently siphoned from a customer’s account.
Justice Yellim Bogoro handed down the sentence after Solomon Ufayo, who served as a Relief Teller with Ecobank, pleaded guilty to a one-count charge filed against him by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The charge bordered on cybercrime, specifically identity fraud and unlawful financial gains.Ecobank
According to the EFCC, between March 10 and 28, 2025, Ufayo, the Ecobank Staff, impersonated one Miss Ogunfodunrin Omowunmi Ajoke, a legitimate Ecobank customer, by posting falsified deposit and withdrawal tellers on her account (No. 2801086259). He used the opportunity to divert the sum of #2,404,000 into his own Opay account, all without the consent of the account holder.
David Ngale Gajere, the EFCC operative who reviewed the case, told the court that the defendant not only confessed in a written statement but also issued a bank draft of #2,404,000 as restitution to the victim. The court also heard that Ufayo committed the act out of desperation, allegedly triggered by his wife’s pregnancy.
“I was tempted. My wife was pregnant and I needed money. I was still in custody when she gave birth. I have learnt my lesson,” Ufayo pleaded for mercy in open court.Ecobank
While acknowledging the remorse shown by the defendant, Justice Bogoro sentenced him to one year in prison, with an option of a #500,000 fine. Additionally, Ufayo was ordered to perform two weeks of community service.
The conviction underscores the EFCC’s commitment to cracking down on cybercrime, particularly when perpetrated by trusted insiders in the financial sector.
By Fikunmi Sokoya
