BY FRONTLINE REPORTERS
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 allegations of fraud, corruption, and money laundering totalling more than N2.04bn.
The defendants — Felix Njoku, a former Director of Finance of the NRC; Benjamin Chinwuba Iloanusi, a serving Director in the corporation’s Procurement Department; and Oche Jerry Ogbole-Inalegwu, Director of Mechanical — were brought before different judges of the Special Offences Court on separate charges.
The charges border on alleged abuse of office, unlawful enrichment, and corruption.
Njoku Faces 17-Count Charge
Njoku was arraigned before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe on a 17-count charge involving an alleged N736,320,807.08 fraud.
According to the EFCC, Njoku, trading under the name FC Njoku and Company, allegedly received N240,940,000 from NRC contractors through a Zenith Bank Plc account between January 2 and December 3, 2024, after leaving office as Director of Finance.
The prosecution alleged that the payments were linked to contracts awarded during his tenure, stating that the funds were received “on account of contracts awarded to the contractors during the discharge of your official duties.”
Njoku pleaded not guilty.
Following the plea, prosecution counsel Abba Muhammad (SAN) requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant pending trial, noting that the prosecution intended to respond to aspects of the bail application on points of law.
Defence counsel Mordecai Adejo informed the court that a bail application had been filed and asked that Njoku be allowed to continue enjoying the administrative bail earlier granted by the EFCC.
Justice Abike-Fadipe granted temporary release on health grounds. The court ordered Njoku to deposit his international passport and directed him to report to the EFCC Lagos Directorate 1 office every Monday and Friday.
The matter was adjourned to March 10, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application, while trial dates were fixed for May 11, 12, 18, and 19, 2026.
Iloanusi Arraigned Over Alleged N915m Fraud
Iloanusi appeared before Justice Ismail Ijelu on a 10-count charge involving an alleged N915,265,472.60 fraud.
The EFCC alleged that while serving as Director of Procurement between January 4 and December 30, 2022, Iloanusi received N160,930,458.04 from NRC contractors through accounts domiciled in Polaris Bank Plc.
The payments, prosecutors said, were linked to contracts awarded in the course of his official duties.
He pleaded not guilty.
Justice Ijelu ordered his remand in a correctional centre and adjourned proceedings until March 3, 2026, for the hearing of his bail application and commencement of trial.
Ogbole-Inalegwu Faces Nine-Count Charge
The third defendant, Ogbole-Inalegwu, was arraigned before Justice Mojisola Dada on a nine-count charge involving an alleged N395,190,600 fraud.
The EFCC alleged that while serving as Railway District Manager and operating under the name Altech Engineering Services between February 12 and October 29, 2019, he received N11,397,500 from China Civil Engineering Construction Company, an NRC contractor.
The funds were allegedly paid through an Access Bank Plc account and connected to contracts awarded during his tenure.
Ogbole-Inalegwu also pleaded not guilty.
Justice Dada allowed him to continue enjoying the administrative bail earlier granted by the EFCC and adjourned the case until April 23, 2026, for hearing.
Legal Basis of Charges
The EFCC stated that the alleged offences contravene Sections 332(1) and 332(3), Section 73(1), and Section 82(c) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
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