By Our Correspondent

Justice O.A. Fadipe of the Lagos State High Court has sentenced one Adebisi Ridwan Ayodeji to 18 months imprisonment for defrauding Sterling Bank Plc of ₦30 million.

The convict was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Ikoyi, on a one-count charge of stealing before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo.

Following procedural changes, Ayodeji was re-arraigned before Justice Fadipe, with the trial commencing de novo on March 3, 2023.

The charge read: “Adebisi Ridwan Ayodeji, on or about the 15th day of September, 2021, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently converted to your own use the sum of ₦30,000,000, property of Sterling Bank Plc.”

Ayodeji pleaded not guilty to the charge, leading to a full trial.

During the proceedings, EFCC counsel S.I. Suleiman called three witnesses and tendered several documents, all admitted as evidence.

Delivering judgment on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, Justice Fadipe found Ayodeji guilty as charged and sentenced him to 18 months in prison.

The court further ordered the convict to refund ₦23,677,107.05, representing the outstanding balance of the stolen sum, to the complainant in addition to the custodial sentence.