EFCC arraigns three NRC directors over ₦2.04bn fraud

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 more than ₦2.04 billion.

The defendants — Felix Njoku, a former Director of Finance; Benjamin Chinwuba Iloanusi, Director in the Procurement Department; and Oche Jerry Ogbole-Inalegwu, Director, Mechanical — were arraigned on separate charges bordering on abuse of office, unlawful enrichment and money laundering.

Njoku was brought before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court on a 17-count charge involving an alleged fraud of ₦736.3 million. Prosecutors alleged that after leaving office, he received ₦240.94 million from NRC contractors through the account of FC Njoku and Company, linked to contracts awarded during his tenure.

Iloanusi was arraigned before Justice Ismail Ijelu on a 10-count charge relating to an alleged ₦915.3 million fraud. According to the charge, he allegedly received ₦160.93 million from contractors through bank accounts while serving as Director of Procurement in 2022, with the payments tied to contracts awarded in the course of his official duties.

Ogbole-Inalegwu faced Justice Mojisola Dada on a nine-count charge involving an alleged ₦395.19 million fraud. The prosecution claimed that while serving as Railway District Manager and operating under Altech Engineering Services, he received ₦11.4 million from China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) in connection with contracts awarded during his official duties.

The alleged offences were 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.

Following the pleas, prosecution counsel Abba Muhammad, SAN, requested trial dates and urged the courts to remand the defendants pending trial, noting the prosecution would respond to aspects of the bail applications. Defence counsel Mordecai Adejo asked 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 and report to the EFCC Lagos Directorate 1 office every Monday and Friday. His case was adjourned to March 10, 2026, for hearing of the 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 the bail application and commencement of trial.

Justice Dada allowed Ogbole-Inalegwu to continue enjoying his administrative bail and adjourned the matter to April 23, 2026, for hearing.