By Nkechi Eze
A banker with Ecobank Nigeria Limited, Solomon Stephen Ufayo, has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged involvement in cybercrime amounting to N2.4 million. The arraignment took place before Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, May 16, 2025.
According to an official signed statement made available by the Commission’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC charged Ufayo with a one-count offence bordering on cybercrime and fraudulent representation.
The charge read: “That you, Solomon Stephen Ufayo, between the 10th to the 28th day of March, 2025, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while working for Ecobank Nigeria Limited as a Relief Teller, fraudulently represented yourself as Ogunfodunrin Omowunmi Ajoke, by posting false deposit and withdrawal tellers on her Ecobank account number 2801086259, with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(i) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition and Prevention etc.) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2)(b) of the same Act.”
The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him in court.
Following the plea, EFCC counsel Abdulhamid L. Tukur called an operative of the Commission, David Ngale Gajere, to review the facts of the case. Gajere told the court that the defendant, while serving as a Relief Teller, accessed a customer’s account and made false postings of deposits and withdrawals, transferring the total sum of N2,404,000 into his personal Opay account.
He stated that the defendant had voluntarily given an extra-judicial statement admitting to the offence and had issued a bank draft for the full amount as restitution to the complainant.
The prosecution tendered the statement, bank documents, and a certified true copy of the draft, all of which were admitted by the court as exhibits.
Justice Bogoro subsequently adjourned the matter until June 6, 2025, for judgment and ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.
The EFCC reaffirmed its commitment to holding financial service professionals accountable and ensuring justice for victims of financial crimes.
