By Erewunmi Peace

In a commendable act of integrity, a Nigerian bank employee, Ajayi Michael Folaseye, has made headlines for rejecting a $7,000 bribe allegedly offered to him in a bid to compromise the internal system of Premium Trust Bank.

Folaseye, an IT officer at the bank, disclosed this on Monday, June 30, during his testimony at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos. The court session was part of the ongoing trial involving two individuals — Wisdom Charles and Destiny Anetor — who are facing charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

According to Folaseye’s statement, the accused approached him on May 5, 2025, requesting unauthorized access to the bank’s systems. Initially offered $5,000, the bribe was increased to $7,000 after he refused the first offer. Demonstrating remarkable professionalism and loyalty, he immediately reported the attempt to his supervisors.

“I was shocked that someone would even think of doing that, especially to compromise a bank’s security,” Folaseye told the court. “My duty is to protect the system, not destroy it.”

The EFCC charged the suspects for conspiracy, attempted cybercrime, and fraudulent access to data. The court has adjourned the matter while investigations continue.

The case has sparked widespread praise from the public, with many Nigerians lauding Folaseye for standing firm in the face of corruption — a rare example of ethics and professionalism in Nigeria’s banking sector.