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, corruption, and money laundering totalling ₦2.04 billion.
The arraignment follows the earlier prosecution of a former top boss of the corporation, as the Commission intensifies its probe into alleged financial infractions within the NRC.
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 abuse of office, unlawful enrichment, and corruption.
Njoku Arraigned on 17 Counts
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.
The EFCC alleged that Njoku, trading under the name FC Njoku and Company, received ₦240,940,000.00 from NRC contractors between January 2 and December 3, 2024, after leaving office as Director of Finance. The funds were allegedly paid into a Zenith Bank Plc account linked to his company in connection with contracts awarded during his tenure.
Iloanusi Docked on 10 Counts
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.
According to the Commission, while serving as Director of Procurement from January 4 to December 30, 2022, he allegedly received ₦160,930,458.04 from NRC contractors through accounts domiciled at Polaris Bank Plc. The payments were said to be linked to contracts awarded in the course of his official duties.
Ogbole-Inalegwu Faces Nine Counts
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 counts alleged that while serving as Railway District Manager of the NRC and transacting under the name Altech Engineering Services between February 12 and October 29, 2019, he received ₦11,397,500.00 from China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), a contractor of the NRC, through the bank account of Altech Engineering Services domiciled in Access Bank Plc (Account No: 0018021498), in relation to contracts awarded to CCECC during the discharge of his official duties.
The EFCC maintained that the 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, requested trial dates and urged the courts to remand the defendants in correctional facilities pending trial, noting that the prosecution intended to respond to certain paragraphs in the bail applications on points of law.
Counsel to the defendants, Mordecai Adejo, informed the courts that bail applications had been filed and served, and urged that the defendants be allowed 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.
Justice Ijelu remanded Iloanusi to a correctional centre and adjourned the case until March 3, 2026, for the hearing of his bail application and the commencement of trial.
Justice Dada allowed Ogbole-Inalegwu to continue enjoying the administrative bail earlier granted by the EFCC and adjourned the case until April 23, 2026, for hearing.
EFCC Arraigns Three NRC Directors Over Alleged ₦2.04bn Fraud in Lagos
