The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Fidet Edetanle Okhiria, before a Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja. The former public officer is facing a seven-count charge related to money laundering, abuse of office, and unlawful enrichment, involving a total of $385,000 and N165,438,000.
Okhiria was brought before Justice Rahman Oshodi on Tuesday, with the EFCC alleging that the offences were committed between 2016 and 2025 during his tenure as the head of the NRC. The prosecuting counsel, Abba Muhammad (SAN), detailed a series of suspicious transactions to the court. These included multiple transfers of funds from Okhiria's personal domiciliary account at Access Bank Plc to an account bearing the name Ehimen Okhiria, domiciled at ABN AMRO Bank in the Netherlands.
The prosecution alleged that between May and September 2024, a cumulative sum of $205,000 was transferred to the Dutch account, followed by another $40,000 in October and November of the same year. Further allegations state that even after leaving office, between January and February 2025, the defendant transferred an additional $60,000 to the same foreign account. The EFCC claims these were proceeds of unlawful activities. "The defendant allegedly abused his office by violating provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, in the award of contracts, purportedly to obtain undue advantage for himself," Muhammad told the court.
The charges also include the receipt of N125,438,000 from accounts linked to James Iria and Kelvin Iria in Zenith Bank, allegedly in connection with contracts awarded to Big Screen Network Limited during his tenure. Additionally, Okhiria is accused of receiving $80,000 related to the lease of an NRC property on Nnamdi Azikiwe Street, Ebute Meta, Lagos, to Remax Realtors Limited.
Upon arraignment, the defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges. His defense counsel, Adebowale Kamoru, requested an adjournment to file a bail application, stating he had just been served with the charges. Justice Oshodi ordered that Okhiria be remanded in a correctional centre pending the hearing of his bail application. The case has been adjourned for trial on May 13, 14, and 15, 2026.
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