The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, arraigned three senior officials of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) before the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja over alleged fraud, money laundering, and abuse of office involving more than ₦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 before different judges at the Special Offences Courts in Ikeja on separate charges.
Njoku was arraigned before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe on a 17-count charge bordering on alleged unlawful enrichment and fraud totalling ₦736,320,807.08. The prosecution alleged that after leaving office, he received ₦240,940,000 from NRC contractors through the account of FC Njoku and Company domiciled in Zenith Bank Plc in connection with contracts awarded during his tenure.
Iloanusi appeared before Justice Ismail Ijelu on a 10-count charge involving an alleged ₦915,265,472.60 fraud. He was accused of receiving ₦160,930,458.04 from NRC contractors through accounts domiciled in Polaris Bank Plc between January and December 2022 while serving as Director of Procurement. The funds were allegedly linked to contracts awarded in the course of his official duties.
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 in 2019 and operating under Altech Engineering Services, he received ₦11,397,500 from China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), an NRC contractor, through an Access Bank Plc account in relation to contracts awarded during his tenure.
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.
All three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their pleas, prosecution counsel Abba Muhammad, SAN, sought trial dates and urged the courts to remand the defendants pending trial, noting that the prosecution intended to respond to aspects of their bail applications. Defence counsel Mordecai Adejo asked the courts to allow the defendants to continue on the administrative bail earlier granted by the EFCC.
Justice Abike-Fadipe granted Njoku temporary release on health grounds, directing 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.
Justice Ijelu remanded Iloanusi in a correctional centre and adjourned his case to 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 and adjourned his case until April 23, 2026, for hearing.