A bank employee, Ajayi Michael Folaseye, has revealed how he turned down a $7,000 bribe allegedly offered by a colleague seeking unauthorized access to Premium Trust Bank’s internal systems. He made this disclosure on Monday during his testimony before Justice Alexander Owoeye at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Ajayi, who is the first prosecution witness in the ongoing trial, testified in the case brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against two bank employees—Kehinde Odeyemi and Matthew Adeniyi Damilola—and three others: Samson Latshin Dakup, Bolaji Omotosho Yinka, and Sunday Badeniyi Okunola.
The defendants face a seven-count charge of conspiracy and attempted theft, following an EFCC investigation into an alleged scheme to exploit internal banking infrastructure through insider access.
“I was offered $7,000 to provide access into the bank’s internal system,” Ajayi told the court. “I declined and reported the incident immediately.” His prompt report is said to have triggered the investigation that uncovered the broader conspiracy.
The EFCC, in a statement released via its official X handle, described the trial as part of a broader crackdown on internal fraud within the Nigerian banking sector. The agency said the charges stemmed from a coordinated attempt to compromise the bank’s infrastructure with help from employees.
The court has adjourned the matter for continuation of trial, with the EFCC expected to present additional witnesses in the coming sessions.
