Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday arraigned former Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) Fidet Okhiria before the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja over alleged fraud involving $385,000 and N165,438,000.
Mr. Okhiria was arraigned before Justice Rahman Oshodi on a seven-count charge bordering on money laundering, abuse of office and unlawful enrichment.
The EFCC alleged that between 2016 and 2025, the defendant abused his office and violated provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, in the award of contracts to obtain undue advantage.
According to the prosecution, between May 29 and September 11, 2024, Okhiria transferred $205,000 from his domiciliary account in Access Bank Plc to an account belonging to Ehimen Okhiria at ABN AMRO Bank, Netherlands, said to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
The commission further alleged that between October 21 and November 21, 2024, he transferred $40,000 from the same Access Bank account to the foreign account.
It also alleged that between January 2 and February 20, 2025, after leaving office, he transferred $60,000 to the same account.
The EFCC accused Okhiria of receiving $40,000 from Emma Ogbogu & Associates’ FCMB account through his personal Access Bank account on April 7, 2025, in relation to the lease of NRC properties at Plots 2 and 5, Federal Road, Ebute Meta, Lagos.
The commission also alleged that between April 8 and May 14, 2025, he received N125,438,000 from accounts belonging to James Iria and Kelvin Iria domiciled in Zenith Bank Plc through his personal Access Bank account in connection with contracts awarded to Big Screen Network Limited during his tenure.
In addition, the EFCC alleged that on June 11, 2025, after leaving office, Okhiria received $80,000 from a domiciliary account belonging to Vincent Obi in Access Bank in relation to the lease of an NRC property at No. 42, Nnamdi Azikiwe Street, Ebute Meta, Lagos, to Remax Realtors Limited.
The prosecution said the alleged offences contravene Sections 332(1) and (3), 73(1) and 82(c) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
Okhiria pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Following his plea, EFCC counsel Abba Muhammad asked the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendant pending trial.
Defence counsel Adebowale Kamoru told the court he had just been served with the charges and sought time to file a bail application.
Justice Oshodi ordered that the defendant be remanded in a correctional facility pending the hearing of the bail application.
The case was adjourned to May 13, 14 and 15, 2026, for trial.
Fidet Okhiria was appointed NRC managing director in 2016 by former President Muhammadu Buhari and left office in 2024 after the expiration of his tenure.
