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 in Ikeja over alleged fraud and money laundering offences totalling more than ₦2.04 billion.
The defendants are a former Director of Finance of the NRC, Felix Njoku; the current Director of Procurement, Benjamin Chinwuba Iloanusi; and the Director of Mechanical, Oche Jerry Ogbole-Inalegwu.
They were arraigned on separate charges bordering on abuse of office, corruption, money laundering and unlawful enrichment by public officials.
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.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Felix Njoku transacting under the name of FC Njoku and Company, after leaving office as the Director Finance, Nigerian Railway Corporation, between 2nd January, 2024 and 3rd December, 2024 in Lagos… committed an offence, to wit; unlawful enrichment by receiving the cumulative sum of Two Hundred and Forty Million, Nine Hundred and Forty Thousand Naira (₦240,940,000.00) from contractors of the Nigerian Railway Corporation…”
The EFCC alleged that the funds were paid through the account of FC Njoku and Company domiciled in Zenith Bank Plc in relation to contracts awarded during his tenure.
Njoku pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Justice Abike-Fadipe granted him 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 case was adjourned till March 10, 2026, for hearing of the bail application and May 11, 12, 18 and 19, 2026, for trial.
Iloanusi was arraigned before Justice Ismail Ijelu on a 10-count charge involving an alleged ₦915,265,472.60 fraud.
One of the charges stated: “That you Benjamin Chinwuba Iloanusi while serving as the Director Procurement Department, Nigerian Railway Corporation, between 4th January, 2022 and 30th December, 2022 in Lagos… committed an offence, to wit; corruption by receiving the cumulative sum of One Hundred and Sixty Million, Nine Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Four Hundred and Fifty Eight Naira, Four Kobo (₦160,930,458.04) from contractors…”
The alleged payments were said to have been received through accounts domiciled in Polaris Bank Plc.
Iloanusi also pleaded not guilty.
Justice Ijelu ordered his remand in a correctional centre and adjourned the matter till March 3, 2026, for hearing of his bail application and commencement of trial.
Ogbole-Inalegwu was arraigned before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, on a nine-count charge involving an alleged ₦395,190,600 fraud.
According to one of the counts: “That you Oche Jerry Ogbole-Inalegwu while serving as the Railway District Manager, Nigerian Railway Corporation and transacting under the name of Altech Engineering Services… received the cumulative sum of Eleven Million, Three Hundred and Ninety Seven Thousand, Five Hundred Naira (₦11,397,500.00) from China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC)… on account of the contracts awarded…”
The EFCC alleged that the funds were received through an Access Bank Plc account linked to Altech Engineering Services.
He pleaded not guilty.
Justice Dada allowed him to continue enjoying the administrative bail earlier granted by the EFCC and adjourned the matter till April 23, 2026.
Prosecution, Defence Clash Over Bail
Following their pleas, prosecution counsel, Abba Muhammad, SAN, urged the courts to fix trial dates and remand the defendants pending trial, stating that the prosecution intended to respond to aspects of the bail applications.
Defence counsel, Mordecai Adejo, told the courts that bail applications had been filed and served, and urged that the defendants be allowed to continue on the administrative bail earlier granted by the EFCC.
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.
Further proceedings in the cases are expected in March and April 2026.
