Three NRC officials docked in Lagos over alleged ₦2.04bn money laundering

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned three senior officials of the Nigerian Railway Corporation over an alleged ₦2.04bn fraud and money laundering scheme before the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja.

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 docked on separate charges bordering on alleged abuse of office, corruption, unlawful enrichment and money laundering. The alleged offences are said to contravene relevant provisions of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Njoku was arraigned before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court on a 17-count charge involving an alleged ₦736,320,807.08 fraud. The EFCC alleged that after leaving office as Director of Finance, he received ₦240,940,000 from NRC contractors through the bank 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 involving an alleged ₦915,265,472.60 fraud. According to the charge, he allegedly received ₦160,930,458.04 from contractors through accounts domiciled in Polaris Bank Plc while serving as Director of Procurement between January and December 2022. The payments were said to be connected to contracts awarded in the course of his official duties.

Ogbole-Inalegwu appeared before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court on a nine-count charge involving an alleged ₦395,190,600 fraud. The commission alleged that while serving as Railway District Manager and operating under Altech Engineering Services, he received ₦11,397,500 from the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), an NRC contractor, through an Access Bank account in relation to contracts awarded during his tenure. 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, stating that the prosecution would respond to aspects of the bail applications on points of law. Defence counsel Mordecai Adejo, however, asked the courts to allow the defendants to continue enjoying 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 Lagos Directorate 1 office every Monday and Friday. The case was adjourned to March 10, 2026, for hearing of the bail application and May 11, 12, 18 and 19, 2026, for commencement of trial.

Justice Ijelu remanded Iloanusi in a correctional centre pending the hearing of his bail application on March 3, 2026, while Justice Dada allowed Ogbole-Inalegwu to continue on the administrative bail earlier granted and adjourned his case until April 23, 2026, for hearing.