The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned three senior officials of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) before different judges of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja over alleged fraud and money laundering totalling ₦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 — face separate charges bordering on abuse of office, corruption and unlawful enrichment.
TheFact Daily had on Tuesday reported the arraignment of a former Managing Director of the NRC, Fidet Okhiria Edetanle, over alleged money laundering involving $385,000 and ₦165,438,000. Edetanle was arraigned before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on a seven-count charge bordering on abuse of office, money laundering and unlawful enrichment by a public official.
Njoku was arraigned before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court on a 17-count charge involving an alleged ₦736.32 million fraud.
The EFCC alleged that between January 2 and December 3, 2024, after leaving office as Director of Finance, he received ₦240.94 million from NRC contractors through the account of FC Njoku and Company domiciled in Zenith Bank Plc. The funds were said to be linked to contracts awarded during his tenure. He pleaded not guilty.
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’s Lagos Directorate 1 office every Monday and Friday. The case was adjourned to March 10, 2026, for hearing of his 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 ₦915.27 million fraud.
According to the charge, he allegedly received ₦160.93 million from NRC contractors through accounts domiciled in Polaris Bank Plc between January 4 and December 30, 2022, while serving as Director of Procurement. The payments were said to be connected to contracts awarded in the course of his official duties. He also pleaded not guilty.
Justice Ijelu ordered his remand in a correctional centre and adjourned the matter to March 3, 2026, for hearing of his bail application and commencement of trial.
In Ogbole-Inalegwu’s case, he was arraigned before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court on a nine-count charge involving an alleged ₦395.19 million fraud.
The EFCC alleged that while serving as Railway District Manager in 2019 and operating under Altech Engineering Services, he received ₦11.39 million from China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), an NRC contractor, through an Access Bank Plc account in connection with contracts awarded during his official duties. He pleaded not guilty.
Justice Dada allowed him to continue on the administrative bail earlier granted by the EFCC and adjourned the case until April 23, 2026, for hearing.
The offences are said to contravene Sections 332(1) and (3), 73(1), and 82(c) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
At the proceedings, prosecution counsel Abba Muhammad, SAN, sought trial dates and urged the courts to remand the defendants pending trial, noting that the prosecution would respond to aspects of the bail applications on points of law.
Defence counsel Mordecai Adejo, however, asked that the defendants be allowed to continue enjoying the administrative bail earlier granted by the EFCC.
