Ecobank Staff Jailed for Stealing N2.4m from Customer’s Account

Solomon Stephen Ufayo, a staff member of Ecobank Nigeria Plc, has been sentenced to one year in prison for cybercrime involving the theft of N2.4 million from a customer’s account. The conviction followed Ufayo’s guilty plea to a one-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Yellim Bogoro at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The EFCC Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 had arraigned Ufayo on May 16, 2025. According to the anti-graft agency, Ufayo, who worked as a Relief Teller at the bank, fraudulently assumed the identity of a customer, Omowunmi Ajoke, by posting fake deposits into her Ecobank account. He then filled out withdrawal slips without her consent and transferred a total of N2,404,000 into his personal Opay account.

The charge stated that between March 10 and 28, 2025, Ufayo committed the offence with intent to gain unlawful financial advantage, in violation of Section 22(2)(b)(i) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.

Upon his guilty plea, EFCC counsel Abdulhamid L. Tukur presented evidence through operative David Ngale Gajere, who confirmed that Ufayo had provided a voluntary statement and returned the stolen sum via a bank draft as restitution.

At the sentencing on June 16, 2025, Ufayo pleaded for leniency, citing financial hardship due to his wife’s pregnancy at the time of the offence. He told the court that his wife gave birth while he was still in custody and expressed remorse for his actions.

Justice Bogoro convicted and sentenced Ufayo to one year in prison with an option of a N500,000 fine. Additionally, the court ordered him to complete two weeks of community service.