Ecobank employee Solomon Ufayo sentenced to one year in prison for cybercrime after fraudulently stealing N2.4m from a customer’s account in Lagos

Ecobank staff jailed cybercrime conviction was handed down on Monday, June 16, as Solomon Stephen Ufayo was sentenced to one year in prison for illegally withdrawing over two million naira from a customer’s account.

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The judgement was delivered by Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.

Ufayo, a Relief Teller at Ecobank Nigeria Plc, was arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a one-count charge of cybercrime.

He pleaded guilty to the charge, which involved impersonating a female bank customer, Omowunmi Ajoke, and fraudulently moving ₦2,404,000 into his personal Opay account.

According to the EFCC, the fraudulent transactions occurred between 10 and 28 March 2025. Ufayo manipulated the customer’s account by fabricating deposit and withdrawal entries. He then used falsified withdrawal slips to siphon the funds, all without the customer’s knowledge or authorisation.

During the trial, EFCC operative David Ngale Gajere reviewed the facts and revealed that the defendant had admitted to the crime in a written statement.

As part of restitution, Ufayo issued a bank draft to repay the entire amount. He also claimed financial pressure stemming from his wife’s pregnancy led him to commit the offence.

In his plea for leniency, Ufayo told the court that his wife had given birth while he was still in detention. He begged for mercy, admitting remorse for his actions and vowing never to repeat them.

Justice Bogoro sentenced him to one year imprisonment, with an option of a ₦500,000 fine. The court further ordered the convict to carry out a two-week community service, reinforcing the seriousness of the offence while offering a chance for rehabilitation.

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The case adds to growing concerns over internal fraud in Nigeria’s banking sector and highlights the ongoing efforts by the EFCC to prosecute cyber-related financial crimes.