The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Fidet Okhiria Edetanle, before the Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja over alleged fraud and money laundering.
Edetanle was docked before Justice Rahman Oshodi on a seven-count charge bordering on abuse of office, money laundering, and unlawful enrichment by a public official.
The anti-graft agency accused him of defrauding the NRC of N165,438,000 and $385,000 while serving as the corporation’s managing director.
Prosecuting counsel, Abba Muhammad, told the court that the alleged offences were committed between May 29 and September 11, 2024, in Lagos. He said the charges contravene Sections 332(1), 332(3), 73(1), and 82(c) of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2011.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all counts. Following his plea, the prosecution sought a trial date and urged the court to remand him in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending the commencement of trial.
Defence counsel, Adebowale Kamoru, informed the court that he had just been served with the charge and requested a short adjournment to enable him file a bail application.
Justice Oshodi subsequently adjourned the matter until May 13 for further proceedings and ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Facility pending the hearing and determination of his bail request.
One of the counts alleged that Edetanle transferred $205,000 from his Access Bank domiciliary account, said to be proceeds of unlawful activities, to an account belonging to Ehimen Richard Okhiria at ABN AMRO Bank in the Netherlands between May 29 and September 11, 2024.
Another charge stated that after leaving office as NRC Managing Director, he allegedly transferred an additional $40,000 from his Access Bank account to the same ABN AMRO Bank account in the Netherlands between October 21 and November 21, 2024.
Reporting By Wahab Akinlade