The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned three senior officials of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) before the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja over alleged fraud and money laundering totalling more than ₦2.04 billion.
The defendants — Felix Njoku, a former Director of Finance; Benjamin Chinwuba Iloanusi, Director of Procurement; and Oche Jerry Ogbole-Inalegwu, Director of Mechanical — were docked on separate charges bordering on abuse of office, corruption, unlawful enrichment and money laundering.
Njoku was arraigned before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, on a 17-count charge involving an alleged ₦736,320,807.08 fraud.
According to the charge, Njoku, trading under the name FC Njoku and Company after leaving office, allegedly received ₦240,940,000 from contractors of the NRC between January 2 and December 3, 2024. The funds were said to have been paid into an account domiciled in Zenith Bank Plc in connection with contracts awarded during his tenure as Director of Finance.
Iloanusi was arraigned before Justice Ismail Ijelu on a 10-count charge involving an alleged ₦915,265,472.60 fraud. Prosecutors alleged that while serving as Director of Procurement between January 4 and December 30, 2022, he received ₦160,930,458.04 from NRC contractors through accounts domiciled in Polaris Bank Plc, payments said to be linked to contracts awarded in the course of his official duties.
Ogbole-Inalegwu was arraigned before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court on a nine-count charge involving an alleged ₦395,190,600 fraud. The EFCC alleged that while serving as Railway District Manager and operating under the name Altech Engineering Services, he received ₦11,397,500 from China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), an NRC contractor. The payment was allegedly made through an Access Bank Plc account in connection with contracts awarded during his official duties.
The offences are said to contravene Sections 332(1) and 332(3), Section 73(1), and Section 82(c) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
All three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following the pleas, prosecution counsel Abba Muhammad, SAN, sought trial dates and urged the courts to remand the defendants in correctional facilities pending trial, noting that the prosecution intended to respond to aspects of the bail applications on points of law.
Defence counsel Mordecai Adejo informed the courts that bail applications had been filed and served, urging that the defendants be allowed to continue enjoying the administrative bail earlier granted by the EFCC.
Justice Abike-Fadipe granted Njoku temporary release on health grounds, ordering him to deposit his international passport with the court and report to the EFCC Lagos Directorate 1 office every Monday and Friday. The matter was adjourned to March 10, 2026, for hearing of the bail application, and May 11, 12, 18 and 19, 2026, for commencement of trial.
Justice Ijelu remanded Iloanusi in a correctional facility and adjourned his case to March 3, 2026, for hearing of his bail application and trial commencement.
Justice Dada allowed Ogbole-Inalegwu to continue on the administrative bail earlier granted by the EFCC and adjourned proceedings to April 23, 2026, for hearing.
