The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Fidet Edetanle, a former managing director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), over alleged money laundering involving $385,000 and N165,438,000.
Edetanle was arraigned on Tuesday before Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, sitting in Lagos.
He is facing a seven-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office, unlawful enrichment and money laundering.
According to the anti-graft agency, the offences 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 counts alleges that Edetanle, while serving as managing director of the NRC between May 29 and September 11, 2024, transferred a cumulative sum of $205,000 from his domiciliary account with Access Bank Plc to the bank account of Ehimen Richard Okhiria domiciled with ABN AMRO Bank in the Netherlands, allegedly being proceeds of unlawful activities.
Another count states that after leaving office, between October 21 and November 21, 2024, the former NRC managing director allegedly transferred $40,000 from the same Access Bank domiciliary account to the same foreign account, also said to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
Edetanle pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Following his plea, the prosecution counsel, Abba Muhammad, asked the court to fix a trial date and to remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending trial.
However, defence counsel, Adebowale Kamoru, told the court that he had just been served with the charge and sought a short adjournment to enable him to file a bail application.
After hearing both parties, Oshodi adjourned the case to May 13, 14 and 15, 2026, for the commencement of trial and ordered that the defendant be remanded in a maximum correctional facility pending the determination of his bail application.
