The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday, arraigned three senior officials of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) before the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja over alleged fraud, corruption, and money laundering totalling more than N2.04 billion.
The defendants are Felix Njoku, a former Director of Finance of the NRC; Benjamin Chinwuba Iloanusi, currently Director in the Procurement Department; and Oche Jerry Ogbole-Inalegwu, Director, Mechanical.
They were arraigned on separate charges relating to alleged abuse of office, unlawful enrichment, and corruption 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 N736,320,807.08 fraud.
It was alleged that after leaving office as Director of Finance, he received N240,940,000.00 from NRC contractors through the bank account of FC Njoku and Company domiciled in Zenith Bank Plc.
The payments were linked to contracts awarded during his tenure.
Iloanusi was arraigned before Justice Ismail Ijelu on a 10-count charge involving an alleged N915,265,472.60 fraud.
According to the charge, while serving as Director of Procurement between January 4 and December 30, 2022, he allegedly received N160,930,458.04 from NRC contractors through accounts domiciled in Polaris Bank Plc.
The payments were allegedly connected to contracts awarded in the course of his official duties.
Ogbole-Inalegwu was arraigned before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, on a nine-count charge involving an alleged N395,190,600.00 fraud.
The prosecution alleged that while serving as Railway District Manager and operating under the name Altech Engineering Services, he received N11,397,500.00 from China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), an NRC contractor, through an Access Bank Plc account in connection with contracts awarded during his tenure.
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.
Following their pleas, prosecution counsel, Abba Muhammad, SAN, sought trial dates and urged the courts to remand the defendants pending trial, stating 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, and urged 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 has been 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 centre and adjourned his case until March 3, 2026, for hearing of his bail application and commencement of trial.
Justice Dada allowed Ogbole-Inalegwu to continue on the administrative bail earlier granted by the EFCC and adjourned the matter until April 23, 2026, for hearing.
