A Lagos State Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court sitting in Ikeja has sentenced a former Lagos State education director, Olawale Solomon Feleti, to two years and five months’ imprisonment for stealing ₦48,992,271.73.
Justice Rahman Oshodi handed down the sentence after finding the 64-year-old guilty on five counts of stealing brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
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During the trial, the prosecution counsel, A. M. Dambuwa, told the court that Feleti dishonestly converted funds belonging to Access Bank Plc by exploiting a system glitch during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. According to the EFCC, the convict gained unauthorised access to the bank’s credit card system, withdrawing not less than ₦43,000 per transaction.
The commission stated that between May and July 2020, Feleti converted several sums, including ₦12,528,598 between July 2 and July 10, 2020, and ₦6,808,480 on May 22 and July 1, 2020, amounting to about ₦48 million.
The offences, according to the EFCC, contravened Section 287(1)(a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
In his judgment, Justice Oshodi held that Feleti’s actions were deliberate and calculated, noting that the convict made repeated withdrawals despite being fully aware that he had no authorisation to access the funds.
The judge further stated that Feleti failed to show genuine remorse or take responsibility for his actions. Consequently, he was convicted on all five counts and sentenced to two years and five months’ imprisonment on each count, with the sentences to run concurrently.
Justice Oshodi also ordered the convict to restitute ₦3 million to the court and ₦45,991,271.73 to Access Bank Plc. The court added that if full restitution is made, the bank must formally notify the court.
In addition, the judge imposed a fine of ₦5 million and ruled that the custodial sentence would commence on January 5, 2026, at the Maximum Security Facility. Feleti’s name was also ordered to be entered into the Lagos State offenders’ registry.
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