By Nkechi Eze
The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday arraigned a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria Edetanle, before Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, over alleged money laundering involving $385,000 and ₦165,438,000.
Edetanle was docked on a seven-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office, money laundering and unlawful enrichment by a public official.
According to an official statement signed by EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, the offences allegedly committed by the former NRC boss contravene Sections 332(1) and 332(3), Section 73(1), and Section 82(c) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
One of the charges presented before the court alleged that Edetanle, while serving as Managing Director of the NRC between May 29, 2024 and September 11, 2024, in Lagos, “committed an offence, to wit: money laundering, by transferring the cumulative sum of Two Hundred and Five Thousand United States Dollars ($205,000.00) from your 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.”
Another count further alleged that after leaving office, Edetanle, between October 21, 2024 and November 21, 2024, in Lagos, “committed an offence, to wit: money laundering, by transferring the cumulative sum of Forty Thousand United States Dollars ($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.”
When the charges were read to him, the defendant pleaded not guilty to all counts.
Following his plea, the prosecution counsel, Abba Muhammad, SAN, urged the court to fix a date for trial and requested that the defendant be remanded in a correctional facility pending the commencement of proceedings.
However, the defence counsel, Adebowale Kamoru, informed the court that he had only just received the charge and appealed for a short adjournment to enable him file a bail application on behalf of his client.
After listening to both the prosecution and defence, Justice Oshodi adjourned the case to May 13, 14 and 15, 2026 for commencement of trial. The court also ordered that Edetanle be remanded in a maximum correctional facility pending the hearing and determination of his bail application.
