EFCC Trial: How a Nigerian IT Staff Rejected $7,000 Bribe to Protect Bank’s Cyber Integrity

By Prince Agbedeyi Odimientimi Desmond
Global Egberi Media International | July 1, 2025

In an inspiring revelation that underscores ethical responsibility in Nigeria’s banking sector, an Information Technology (IT) staff of Premium Trust Bank, Mr. Ajayi Michael Folaseye, stunned the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday, June 30, 2025, when he testified that he courageously turned down a $7,000 bribe allegedly offered by a colleague to compromise the bank’s secure internal systems.

A Dangerous Proposition from Within

According to Mr. Folaseye, the troubling bribe attempt occurred on May 5, 2025, during office hours. He revealed that the first defendant, Kehinde Odeyemi, an internal auditor, subtly initiated a conversation disguised as a harmless "side gig," proposing access to the bank’s generic IT infrastructure for unauthorized purposes.

“She approached me during office hours and suggested we could make some money through a 'side gig',” Folaseye said while being led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).

Bribe Offer Escalates to $7,000

Initially skeptical, Folaseye maintained that he informed Odeyemi there was no such generic IP address and that each staff had a unique IP. Nevertheless, Odeyemi allegedly offered him $5,000 in cash, promising delivery from the bank’s head office by evening. When that failed, she increased the offer to $7,000.

“I told her I wasn’t interested,” Folaseye said. “She then told me to keep the conversation secret and even threatened to resign if I reported the incident.”

Undeterred, Folaseye reported the unethical proposal to Mr. Idris Adegoke and later to the Head of IT, Mr. Mike Koledoye.

Why He Chose Integrity Over Easy Money

Explaining why he chose to report the case, Folaseye told the court:

“Given past incidents, the bank mandates us to report any suspicious behavior immediately. It could have been a trap or an integrity test.”

He further explained that the IP address is a unique code granting access to customer data and banking operations. Disclosing it, he said, would be a gross violation of the bank’s cybersecurity and data protection policy.

A Broader Plot Exposed

The EFCC revealed that five individuals are facing a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy and attempted data theft:

• Kehinde Odeyemi
• Matthew Adeniyi Damilola
• Samson Latshin Dakup
• Bolaji Omotosho Yinka
• Sunday Badeniyi Okunola

The anti-graft agency publicized the development on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle @officialEFCC.

The Bigger Picture: Nigeria’s Battle Against Financial Cybercrime

This case surfaces amid growing concerns about cybercrimes in Nigeria. In recent months, the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the freezing of 818 bank accounts linked to a ₦10 billion cyber heist at Hope Payment Service Bank. Other reports confirm the arrest of syndicates who defrauded over 1,000 Nigerian bank customers through BVN-linked scams.

A Beacon of Hope in Troubled Waters

While the case casts a shadow on the ethics of certain bank employees, Mr. Ajayi Michael Folaseye’s principled stand against bribery is a beacon of hope. His courage reinforces the call for professional integrity as the banking sector moves deeper into the digital age.

---

📨 Contact Info:
Prince Agbedeyi Odimientimi Desmond
Global Egberi Media International
🌐 https://globalegberi.blogspot.com
📧 globalegberimedia@gmail.com
📞 Nigeria: +234 813 490 2214 | Italy: +39 348 610 6794

© 2025 Global Egberi Media International. All Rights Reserved.