A prosecution witness, Ajayi Michael Folaseye, on Monday, told a Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, how he rejected a $7,000 bribe allegedly offered by a colleague seeking access to Premium Trust Bank’s internal systems.

Ajayi, who is the first prosecution witness, gave his testimony before Justice Alexander Owoeye in the ongoing trial of two bank employees, Kehinde Odeyemi and Matthew Adeniyi Damilola.

The defendants, alongside three others, Samson Latshin Dakup, Bolaji Omotosho Yinka, and Sunday Badeniyi Okunola, are facing a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy to steal.

They are being prosecuted by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

According to a statement by the EFCC on its official X handle, Ajayi narrated how one of the defendants approached him with the offer in exchange for unauthorised access to the bank’s internal infrastructure.

“I was offered $7,000 to provide access into the bank’s internal system, but I refused and immediately reported the incident,” he said.

The EFCC stated that the trial is part of ongoing efforts to tackle financial crimes within the banking sector.

The defendants were arraigned following investigations into an alleged scheme to defraud the bank by exploiting internal system loopholes with the help of insider collaborators.

The case has been adjourned, and further proceedings are expected to continue as the EFCC presents more witnesses. (The PUNCH, but headline rejigged)