Ajayi Michael Folaseye, an employee of Premium Trust Bank, testified as the first witness in an ongoing trial regarding a bribery case involving bank staff.
Rejection of Bribe
On May 5, 2025, Folaseye reported that Kehinde Odeyemi, an internal auditor, offered him a bribe of ₦7.7 million for access to a generic IP address. Following his refusal, the offer was raised to ₦10.7 million. He stated, "I told her I wasn't interested. She then told me to keep the conversation secret and threatened to resign if I reported it."
Sensitivity of the IP Address
Folaseye highlighted that the requested IP address was a critical access point to the bank's server and databases. Disclosing it would violate the bank's data protection policy, stating, "It is a code that grants access to customer data and core banking operations. Disclosing it would pose serious cybersecurity risks."
Legal Proceedings
Currently, Kehinde Odeyemi, Matthew Damilola, and three others are facing criminal charges for conspiracy to steal from the Premium Trust Bank's funds, as brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The trial has been adjourned to July 18, 2025, for further hearings.
This incident highlights the critical importance of ethical conduct in the banking sector and the measures in place to prevent fraud.
