Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Fidet Okhiria, over alleged financial impropriety involving $385,000 and N165 million.
Gatekeepers News reports that Okhiria was on Wednesday brought before the Federal High Court in Lagos on multiple counts bordering on conspiracy, money laundering, and diversion of public funds.
The anti-graft agency accused the former NRC chief of abusing his office by approving and facilitating illegal payments running into hundreds of millions of naira during his tenure.
According to the charge sheet, Okhiria allegedly conspired with other officials to divert public funds through unauthorized transactions, resulting in the unlawful transfer of $385,000 and N165 million. EFCC said the funds were allegedly laundered through private accounts and shell transactions in violation of existing financial and anti-corruption laws.
The prosecution told the court that the alleged offences contravened provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act and the EFCC Establishment Act. Okhiria, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to him.
Following his plea, the prosecution requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant to a correctional facility. Defence counsel, on the other hand, applied for bail, arguing that the former NRC boss would not interfere with investigations and would make himself available for trial.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to a later date to hear the bail application and fixed a date for the commencement of trial.
