The day I had to choose between a man's family and the truth

Back in 2005, I was a Deputy Director in the Ministry of Education. A young man named Segun worked under me as a clerk. Nice boy, married with three small children. Always respectful. One day he came to my office crying. Said his wife was sick and he needed help processing his pension papers early. I felt for him.

I took him to the accounts department myself. Showed him every step. The accountant, a sharp woman named Mrs. Adeyemi, pulled me aside later. She said, 'Kunle, that boy you brought. He has been siphoning money from the cooperative scheme for two years.'

My heart dropped. I sat down slowly. The Yoruba say, the one you carry on your head is the one that will urinate on your neck. I had vouched for this boy. I had brought him into the office where he stole from his colleagues.

I called Segun to my office the next morning. I closed the door. I said, 'Segun, I know about the cooperative.' He did not even deny it. He just put his head down and started crying. He said his wife had kidney problems. The hospital bills were too much. He said he was sorry, that he would pay back every kobo, that his children would starve if he lost his job.

I sat there for a long time. In the civil service, we have a rule: if you steal, you face the consequences. But I also remembered what my father told me. He said, 'Justice without mercy is cruelty.'

I made Segun write a confession. I made him sign an agreement to repay the money in installments directly from his salary. I told Mrs. Adeyemi to keep it within the ministry. No police. No dismissal. But I told Segun, 'If you ever do this again, I will not protect you. And you will tell your wife the truth about where the money came from.'

He paid back every kobo over three years. Last I heard, his wife recovered. His children are all in university now. He sent me a letter last year thanking me. He said I taught him that second chances exist.

I have thought about that day many times. Was I right? I do not know. But I know that if I had thrown him out, three children would have suffered for their father's mistake. Sometimes the right thing is not the clean thing.