By Yemi Akinsuyi
Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Monday, October 20, 2025, convicted and sentenced one Christopher Ekene Ofielu, a driver with the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, to 18 months imprisonment for N6.9m theft.
The 39-year-old convict was arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing and possession to the tune of N6,995,944( Six Million Nine Hundred and Ninety Five Thousand, Nine Hundred and Forty Four Naira only).
One of the counts reads: “That you, Christopher Ekene Ofielu, on or about October 2023, Lagos, within this honourable court, used your Habaripay Squad account created for criminal activity and transferred the sum of N6,995,944 into your Access Bank account 14864072356, property of HabariPay Ltd.”
He pleaded “guilty” to the charges when they were read to him
In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, Abubakar Dambuwa, called on Adams Adze, an investigator with the EFCC, to review the facts of the case.
In his review, Adze said the defendant was arrested, following a petition dated September 26, 2023 submitted by HabariPay Ltd to the Commission.
He also stated that Ofielu had capitalised on a system glitch to make the unauthorized withdrawal.
The prosecution counsel, thereafter, informed the court of a plea bargain entered into by the defendant, and also urged the court to convict the defendant accordingly.
Responding, the defence counsel, Mercy Akhabue, prayed the court for leniency and urged the court to temper justice with mercy.
“My Lord, he is remorseful and is a first- time offender,” he added.
After listening to both parties, Justice Oshodi convicted Ofielu on the count of stealing and sentenced him to 18 months imprisonment, starting from October 20, 2025.
Justice Oshodi, however, gave the convict an option of a fine in the sum of ₦1.5 million provided he fully restitutes the stolen amount to the tune of N 6,995,944 to HabariPay Ltd within seven days from his Access Bank account No. 14864072356, failing which the jail term of 18 months would apply .
The court also ordered the restoration of the convict’s Eco Bank salary account.
Justice Oshodi further ordered that the convict’s biometric data be registered in the Lagos State offenders’ register.
The convict was ordered remanded at the EFCC custody pending the execution of necessary documents.
