Former Lagos Govt Employee Jailed for Two Years for N48.9m Theft from Covid-19 Bank System Glitches

A former employee of the Lagos State Ministry of Education, Olawale Solomon Faleti, has been sentenced and convicted to two years and five months imprisonment by Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Monday, January 5, 2026,for N48,992,271.73 alleged fruad committed during the 2020 during the lock down period occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic.
 
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 (One Million, One Hundred Thousand Naira), which was  granted by the bank to enable him meet his “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 (Forty-Three Thousand Naira only) 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 from N43,000.00 (Forty-Three Thousand Naira Only) to N54,900,000.00 (Fifty-Four Million Nine Hundred Thousand Naira) due to a system glitch experienced by the bank  in March, 2020 during the lockdown period occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic.
 
According the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which investigated the case, 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 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) to N5,000,000.00 (Five Million Naira) almost on a daily basis to the tune of  N50,939,966.00 (Fifty Million, Nine Hundred and Thirty-Nine Thousand, Nine Hundred and Sixty-Six Naira)
 
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  reads: “ 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 , Five Hundred and Twenty- eight Thousand, Five Hundred and Ninety- eight Naira, property of Access Bank Plc”.
 
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 ( Six  Million , Eight Hundred and  Eight Thousand, Four Hundred and Eighty Naira), property of Access Bank Plc.”
 
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.

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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 N5m 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.