Justice Yellim Bogoro of the High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday sentenced an Ecobank employee, Solomon Ufayo, to one year in prison for committing cybercrime involving ₦2.4 million.
The Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought a one-count charge against Ufayo, to which he pleaded guilty.
According to an EFCC statement, Ufayo, while working as a Relief Teller at Ecobank between 10 and 28 March 2025, fraudulently impersonated a customer, Ogunfodunrin Ajoke. He manipulated her account by posting fake deposits and processing unauthorised withdrawals amounting to ₦2.4 million.
He then transferred the stolen money into his own account held at a different bank.
The charge read: “That you, Solomon Stephen Ufayo, between March 10 and March 28 2025, in Lagos, while working as a Relief Teller at Ecobank Nigeria Limited, fraudulently represented yourself as Ogunfodunrin Omowunmi Ajoke by posting false deposit and withdrawal tellers on her account, intending to benefit unlawfully, thereby committing an offence 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.”
During the hearing, EFCC operative David Gajere reviewed the facts and informed the court that Ufayo made a confessional statement and returned the full amount via a bank draft.
Pleading for leniency, Ufayo cited financial hardship and said his wife had given birth while he was in custody. “I was still in custody when my wife delivered the baby. I have learnt my lesson,” he said.
Justice Bogoro sentenced Ufayo to one year in prison with an option of a ₦500,000 fine and also ordered him to complete two weeks of community service.