The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ikoyi, on Wednesday, February 24, 2026, arraigned a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Fidet Okhiria Edetanle, before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, over alleged fraud 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, contrary to Sections 332(1) and 332(3), Section 73(1), and Section 82(c) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
Alleged Overseas Transfers
According to the charge sheet, the former railway chief allegedly transferred $205,000 between May 29, 2024 and September 11, 2024, from his domiciliary account with Access Bank Plc to an account belonging to Ehimen Richard Okhiria at ABN AMRO Bank in the Netherlands. The funds were described as proceeds of unlawful activities.
In another count, he was accused of transferring an additional $40,000 from the same account to the same foreign beneficiary between October 21, 2024 and November 21, 2024, after leaving office. The prosecution also alleged that the funds constituted proceeds of unlawful activities.
Plea and Adjournment
The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to all seven counts.
Following his plea, prosecution counsel Abba Muhammad, SAN, requested that the court fix a trial date and remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending trial.
Defence counsel Adebowale Kamoru told the court that he had just been served with the charge and sought a short adjournment to enable him file a bail application.
After hearing both parties, Justice Oshodi adjourned the matter to May 13, 14 and 15, 2026, for commencement of trial. The court ordered that the defendant be remanded in a maximum correctional facility pending the determination of his bail application.
