The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission 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 amounting to over ₦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 alleged 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.
One of the charges 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 within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, committed an offence, to wit; unlawful enrichment by receiving the cumulative sum of Two Hundred and Forty Million, Nine Hundred and Forty Thousand Naira (N240,940,000.00) from contractors of the Nigerian Railway Corporation… on account of the contracts awarded to the contractors during the discharge of your official duties.”
Iloanusi was arraigned before Justice Ismail Ijelu on a 10-count charge involving an alleged ₦915,265,472.60 fraud.
A count against him states: “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 (N160,930,458.04) from contractors… on account of the contracts awarded to the contractors during the discharge of your official duties.”
Ogbole-Inalegwu was arraigned before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, on a nine-count charge involving an alleged ₦395,190,600.00 fraud.
One of the charges reads: “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, between 12th February, 2019 and 29th October, 2019 in Lagos… committed an offence, to wit; corruption by receiving the cumulative sum of Eleven Million, Three Hundred and Ninety Seven Thousand, Five Hundred Naira (N11,397,500.00) from China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC)… on account of the contracts awarded… during the discharge of your official duties.”
The offences allegedly 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.
Prosecution counsel, Abba Muhammad, SAN, requested trial dates and urged the courts to remand the defendants pending trial, stating that the prosecution would respond to aspects of the bail applications on points of law.
Defence counsel, Mordecai Adejo, urged the courts to allow the defendants 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 trial.
Justice Ijelu remanded Iloanusi in a correctional centre and adjourned the 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.
