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By Christopher Oji
Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, Lagos, on Monday, January 5, 2026, convicted and sentenced one Olawale Solomon Faleti, a former employee of the Lagos State Ministry of Education, to two years and five months imprisonment for N48,992,271.73 theft.
Investigation revealed that Faleti, who maintained several accounts with one of the new generation banks, applied for a personal loan facility in the sum of N1,100,000.00, which was granted by the bank to enable him meet “urgent financial needs.”
Faleti, investigation also revealed, had subsequently applied for and obtained a credit card facility, with a withdrawal limit of N43,000.00 operated under his account number 0819670166, domiciled at the Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, branch of the bank.
It was further revealed that Faleti’s credit card limit was enhanced to N54,900,000.00 due to a system glitch experienced by the bank in March, 2020 during the lockdown period occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic.
In view of this, Faleti rapidly made withdrawals above the agreed credit card facility limit.
Further investigation also showed that the convict, between March, 2020, and July, 2020, made cash withdrawals ranging from N500,000.00 to N5,000,000.00 almost on a daily basis to the tune of N50,939,966.00 .
Upon completion of investigations, the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, first arraigned the convict on a one-count charge bordering on stealing to the tune of N48,992,271.73.
The prosecution subsequently filed a five-count amended charge against the defendant.
One of the counts read, “That you, Olawale Solomon Faleti, sometime between the 2nd of July, 2020, and 10th July, 2020, in Lagos, within the Ikeja jurisdiction of this Honourable court, with dishonest intent, converted the same to your own use, the total sum of N12,528,598.00 (Twelve Million)”.
Another count reads: “That you, Olawale Solomon Faleti, sometime between the 22nd May, 2020, and 1st July, 2020, in Lagos, within the Ikeja Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with dishonest intent, converted the same to your own use, the total sum of N6,808,480.00.”
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to him, thereby leading to his full trial.
In the course of the trial, prosecution counsel, A.M. Dambuwa, presented two witnesses and tendered several documents, including the defendant’s extra-judicial statements, letter of response from the bank, as well as his account statement, which were admitted in evidence by the court against him.
The prosecution also urged the court to convict the defendant as charged. The defence presented two witnesses, including the defendant who testified.
Delivering judgment on Monday, January 5, 2026, Justice Oshodi held that the defendant’s criminal conduct was “calculative” because he made multiple withdrawals knowing full well that he had no authorization to do so.
“You have shown no genuine remorse and have not accepted responsibility for your criminal conduct,” the judge further held.
He consequently found him guilty and sentenced him to two years and five months imprisonment on each of the counts.
The sentences are to run concurrently.
The Judge ordered the convict to make restitution to the petitioner within six months from the day of judgment , Monday, January 5, 2025.
The restitution order, however, shall be without an option of fine.
The judge also ordered the prosecution to trace and attach any property owned by the convict, including the identified property before the court, and make sure it covers the outstanding balance of N45,961,700.23.
The prosecution was further ordered to confirm the payment of the restitution to the court.
Justice Oshodi further ordered that if the convict elects to an option of fine, he should pay the sum of N5 million within a period of six months, failing which he will serve the term of the imprisonment at the Ikoyi Maximum Correctional Centre, Lagos.
The judge also ordered that his name should be registered in the Lagos State Offenders Registry Data Baseball Team maintained by the Lagos State Judiciary.
