Ecobank staff sentenced to prison for N2.4m cybercrime fraud

In a significant win for Nigeria’s anti-corruption drive, a Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has sentenced Solomon Ufayo, a staff member of Ecobank Plc, to one year in prison for cybercrime-related fraud involving ₦2.4 million.

The judgment was delivered on Monday, June 17, 2025, by Justice Yellim Bogoro, following Ufayo’s arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on May 16.

According to a statement released by EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, Ufayo was found guilty of fraudulently impersonating a bank customer, Ogunfodunrin Omowunmi Ajoke, between March 10 and 28, in a calculated attempt to gain unauthorized access to her account.

Mr Oyewale stated that while serving as a Relief Teller, Mr Ufayo allegedly manipulated deposit and withdrawal tellers on the customer’s Ecobank account (No. 2801086259), enabling him to divert a total of N2,404,000 into his personal Opay account.

The commission alleged in the charge that between the 10 to 28 March 2025, in Lagos, the defendant, while working for Ecobank Nigeria Limited as a Relief Teller, fraudulently represented himself as Ogunfodunrin Omowunmi Ajoke by posting false deposit and withdrawal tellers on her Ecobank account number 2801086259, with intent to gain advantage for himself.

The action, EFCC said, is contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(i) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2)(b) of the same Act.

Mr Ufayo pleaded guilty to the charge.

Following his plea, EFCC counsel Abdulhamid Tukur called EFCC operative David Gajere to review the facts.

Mr Gajere told the court that Mr Ufayo admitted to the crime in a voluntary statement and had issued a bank draft of N2,404,000 as restitution to the petitioner.

The prosecution tendered key exhibits including the defendant’s statement, copies of falsified bank slips, and the certified true copy of the restitution bank draft.

The statement noted that the court admitted them in evidence.

Before sentencing, Mr Ufayo pleaded for leniency, citing personal hardship.

“I was tempted because my wife was pregnant. I was still in custody when she delivered. I have learnt my lesson,” he said.

But Mr Bogoro convicted Mr Ufayo and sentenced him to one year in prison with an option of N500,000 fine.

The court also ordered that he serve two weeks of community service.