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 sitting in Ikeja over alleged fraud and money laundering amounting to over ₦2.04 billion.
The defendants — Felix Njoku, a former Director of Finance of the NRC; Benjamin Chinwuba Iloanusi, Director of Procurement; and Oche Jerry Ogbole-Inalegwu, Director of Mechanical — were arraigned before different judges of the Special Offences Court on separate charges bordering on abuse of office, corruption, unlawful enrichment and money laundering.
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Njoku Arraigned on 17-Count Charge
Njoku was arraigned before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe on a 17-count charge involving an alleged fraud of ₦736,320,807.08.
One of the counts read in court stated:
“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 Honourable 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 (₦240,940,000.00) from contractors of the Nigerian Railway Corporation through the bank account of FC Njoku and Company domiciled in Zenith Bank Plc with account number: 1014247906, on account of the contracts awarded to the contractors during the discharge of your official duties.”
The EFCC alleged that Njoku received the sum of ₦240,940,000.00 from NRC contractors through the said account after leaving office, in connection with contracts awarded during his tenure.
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
Following his plea, prosecution counsel, Abba Muhammad, SAN, sought trial dates and urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending trial, noting 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 served, urging 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, ordering him to deposit his international passport with the court and to 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 to May 11, 12, 18 and 19, 2026, for commencement of trial.
Iloanusi Faces 10-Count Charge
Iloanusi was arraigned before Justice Ismail Ijelu on a 10-count charge involving an alleged ₦915,265,472.60 fraud.
One of the counts read:
“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 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, 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 (₦160,930,458.04) from contractors of the Nigerian Railway Corporation through your bank account domiciled in Polaris Bank Plc with account numbers: 1060170530 and 1767841197 respectively, on account of the contracts awarded to the contractors during the discharge of your official duties.”
The prosecution alleged that the payments were linked to contracts awarded during his time as Director of Procurement.
He also pleaded “not guilty.”
Justice Ijelu ordered that Iloanusi be remanded in a correctional centre and adjourned the case till March 3, 2026, for hearing of his bail application and commencement of trial.
Ogbole-Inalegwu arraigned on nine counts
Ogbole-Inalegwu was arraigned before Justice Mojisola Dada on a nine-count charge involving an alleged ₦395,190,600.00 fraud.
One of the charges stated:
“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 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, committed an offence, to wit; corruption by receiving the cumulative sum of Eleven Million, Three Hundred and Ninety-Seven Thousand, Five Hundred Naira (₦11,397,500.00) from China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), a contractor of the Nigerian Railway Corporation through the bank account of Altech Engineering Services domiciled in Access Bank Plc with account number: 0018021498, on account of the contracts awarded to CCECC during the discharge of your official duties.”
The EFCC alleged that the payment from China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), an NRC contractor, was connected to contracts awarded during his official duties.
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
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.
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.
