The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned three senior officials of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) before separate courts of the Lagos State Special Offences Court, in Ikeja, over alleged fraud, corruption, and money laundering amounting to more than ₦2.04 billion.
The defendants are Felix Njoku, a former Director of Finance of the NRC; Benjamin Chinwuba Iloanusi, currently a Director in the Procurement Department; and Oche Jerry Ogbole, Director of Mechanical.
They were docked on separate charges bordering on abuse of office, unlawful enrichment, and corruption by public officials.
Njoku faces 17 counts over ₦736m
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.
According to the EFCC, Njoku, trading under the name FC Njoku and Company, allegedly received ₦240,940,000 from contractors of the NRC between January 2 and December 3, 2024, shortly after leaving office as Director of Finance. The funds were said to have been paid into a Zenith Bank account linked to his company in connection with contracts awarded during his tenure.
He pleaded not guilty.
Justice Abike-Fadipe granted him 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 case was adjourned to March 10, 2026, for hearing of his bail application and to May 11, 12, 18 and 19, 2026, for trial.
Iloanusi was arraigned before Justice Ismail Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court 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, he 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 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.
Ogbole was arraigned before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, 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 Altech Engineering Services between February 12 and October 29, 2019, he received ₦11,397,500 from China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), a contractor to the NRC. The funds were allegedly paid into an Access Bank account in relation to contracts awarded during his official duties.
He pleaded not guilty.
Justice Dada allowed him to continue enjoying the administrative bail earlier granted by the EFCC and adjourned the case to April 23, 2026, for hearing.
The prosecution, led by Abba Muhammad, SAN, sought trial dates and asked the courts to remand the defendants pending trial, noting that the EFCC would respond to aspects of their 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.
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, setting the stage for separate trials before the Lagos Special Offences Court, .
