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 alleged fraud, corruption and money laundering amounting to over ₦2.04 billion.
The defendants are Felix Njoku, a former Director of Finance of the NRC; Benjamin Chinwuba Iloanusi, currently a Director in the corporation’s Procurement Department; and Oche Jerry Ogbole-Inalegwu, Director of Mechanical.
They were docked before different judges of the Special Offences Court on separate charges bordering on abuse of office, unlawful enrichment and corruption.
Njoku was arraigned before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe on a 17-count charge involving an alleged ₦736,320,807.08 fraud.
EFCC alleged that Njoku, trading under the name FC Njoku and Company, after leaving office as Director of Finance, between January 2 and December 3, 2024, received ₦240,940,000 from NRC contractors through a Zenith Bank Plc account linked to contracts awarded during his tenure.
According to the charge, the funds were allegedly received “on account of the contracts awarded to the contractors during the discharge of your official duties.”
Njoku pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following his plea, prosecution counsel, Abba Muhammad (SAN), asked the court for a trial date and urged that he should be remanded pending trial.
He also added 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 urged the court to allow the defendant to continue enjoying the administrative bail earlier granted by the EFCC.
Justice Abike-Fadipe granted Njoku temporary release on health grounds, ordered him to deposit his international passport with the court, and directed him to report to the EFCC Lagos Directorate 1 office every Monday and Friday.
The judge adjourned the matter to March 10, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application and fixed May 11, 12, 18 and 19, 2026, for the commencement of the trial.
Iloanusi was arraigned before Justice Ismail Ijelu on a 10-count charge involving an alleged ₦915,265,472.60 fraud.
The prosecution alleged that while serving as Director of Procurement between January 4 and December 30, 2022, Iloanusi received ₦160,930,458.04 from NRC contractors through bank accounts domiciled in Polaris Bank Plc.
The payments were allegedly linked to contracts awarded in the course of his official duties.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Justice Ijelu ordered his remand in a correctional centre and adjourned the case till March 3, 2026, for the hearing of his bail application and commencement of trial.
The third defendant, Ogbole-Inalegwu, was arraigned before Justice Mojisola Dada on a nine-count charge involving an alleged ₦395,190,600 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 ₦11,397,500 from China Civil Engineering Construction Company, an NRC contractor, through an Access Bank Plc account in relation to contracts awarded during his official duties.
He also pleaded not guilty.
Justice Dada allowed him to continue enjoying the administrative bail earlier granted by the EFCC and adjourned the case till April 23, 2026, for hearing.
According to the EFCC, 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.
The PUNCH