EFCC WITNESSES TELL COURT HOW EX-RAILWAYS MD ALLEGEDLY STOLE $385,000, N165.4M

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Thursday heard testimony from prosecution witnesses alleging that former Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Fidet Okhiria, unlawfully enriched himself with $385,000 and ₦165.4 million belonging to the corporation.

The witnesses, who testified for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), appeared before Justice Rahman Oshodi in the ongoing trial of the former railway chief.

Okhiria is facing a seven-count charge bordering on money laundering, abuse of office and unlawful enrichment by a public official involving $385,000 and ₦165,438,000.

The first prosecution witness, Abasiama Idiong, a compliance officer with Access Bank, told the court that the bank received requests from the EFCC between October 2025 and January 2026 for account statements and account-opening documents belonging to some customers, including Okhiria and Ndubusi Vincent.

Led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Abba Muhammed, SAN, Idiong said he retrieved the requested records from the relevant branches, printed them and submitted them to his superiors for approval before forwarding them to the commission.

He also confirmed the account numbers, account holders’ names and authorised signatories contained in the records.

Documents tendered by the prosecution, including certified account statements, a certificate of identification and correspondence between Access Bank and the EFCC, were admitted in evidence as exhibits.

The second prosecution witness, Clement Mgbolu, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, told the court that the bank received investigation requests from the EFCC in June, September and October 2025 for customers’ account statements and account-opening documents.

Mgbolu said he generated and verified the requested records and prepared a certificate of compliance and a forwarding letter, which were approved by his superiors before being submitted to the commission.

During cross-examination by defence counsel, Adebowale Kamoru, Idiong reiterated that the account numbers under investigation belonged to Okhiria and that the transactions in question were carried out through the accounts.

Mgbolu also confirmed that the transaction narrations cited during the proceedings appeared in the bank statements under investigation.

The court adjourned the case until October 30 and November 6, 2026, for continuation of the trial.