EFCC arraigns former NRC MD over alleged $385,000, ₦165.438m fraud

A former Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Fidet Okhiria Edetanle, has been arraigned before the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over alleged fraud involving $385,000 and ₦165,438,000.00.

He was arraigned before Justice Rahman Oshodi yesterday over allegations of fraud involving $385,000 and ₦165,438,000.00.

Edetanle was arraigned on a seven-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office, money laundering, and unlawful enrichment by a public official.

The anti-graft commission said his offences contravene Sections 332(1) and 332(3), Section 73(1), and Section 82(c) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

EFCC alleged that Edetanle while serving as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, between May 29, 2024 and September 11, 2024, committed an offence, to wit: money laundering, by transferring the cumulative sum of  $205,000.00 from his domiciliary account domiciled in Access Bank Plc, account number 0010069159, being proceeds of unlawful activities, to the bank account of Ehimen Richard Okhiria domiciled in ABN AMRO Bank, Netherlands, with account number NL38ABNA011257662.”

Part of the charge read that, “You, Fidet Okhiria Edetanle, after leaving office as Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, between October 21, 2024 and November 21, 2024, in Lagos, committed an offence, to wit: money laundering, by transferring the cumulative sum of $40,000.00 from your domiciliary account in Access Bank Plc to the bank account of Ehimen Richard Okhiria domiciled in ABN AMRO Bank, Netherlands, being proceeds of unlawful activities.”

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges read to him.

Following his plea, prosecution counsel, Abba Muhammad (SAN), requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending trial.

However, defence counsel, Adebowale Kamoru, informed the court that he had just received the charge and requested a short adjournment to enable him file a bail application.

After hearing both parties, Justice Oshodi subsequently adjourned the matter to May 13, 14, and 15, 2026, for continuation of trial and ordered that the defendant be remanded in a maximum correctional facility pending the determination of his bail application.