The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned former Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, Fidet Edetanle, before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, Lagos, over alleged fraud involving $385,000 and N165.43million.
Edetanle is facing an seven-count charge of money laundering, abuse of office, and unlawful enrichment by a public official.
The offences are said to contravene Sections 332(1) and 332(3), Section 73(1), and Section 82(c) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
When the charges were read, the defendant pleaded not guilty to all eight counts.
Appearing for the prosecution, Abba Muhammad, SAN, urged the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending trial.
Meanwhile, Adebowale Kamoru, counsel for the defendant, informed the court that he had just received the charge and requested a short adjournment to file a bail application.
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Justice Oshodi ordered that Edetanle be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the trial to May 13, 14, and 15, 2026,, for continuation.
Some of the counts read: “That you, Fidet Edetanle, while serving as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, between May 29, 2024, and September 11, 2024, in Lagos, transferred a cumulative sum of $205,000 from your domiciliary account in Access Bank Plc (account number 0010069159) to the account of Ehimen Okhiria at ABN AMRO Bank, Netherlands (account number NL38ABNA011257662), being proceeds of unlawful activities, thereby committing money laundering.
“You, Edetanle, after leaving office, between October 21, 2024, and November 21, 2024, in Lagos, transferred $40,000 from your Access Bank domiciliary account to the account of Ehimen Richard Okhiria at ABN AMRO Bank, Netherlands, being proceeds of unlawful activities, committing money laundering.”
