EFCC ARRAIGNS THREE NRC DIRECTORS OVER ALLEGED N2.04BN FRAUD IN LAGOS

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday arraigned three senior officials of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) before different courts of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja over alleged fraud, abuse of office and money laundering amounting to over ₦2.04 billion.

The defendants, Felix Njoku, a former Director of Finance; Benjamin Chinwuba Iloanusi, Director of Procurement; and Oche Jerry Ogbole, Director Mechanical — were docked on separate charges before three judges.

Njoku was arraigned before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, on a 17-count charge involving an alleged ₦736.3 million fraud.

The EFCC alleged that after leaving office as Director of Finance, he received ₦240.94 million from NRC contractors between January 2 and December 3, 2024, through the bank account of FC Njoku and Company domiciled in Zenith Bank Plc. The payments were allegedly linked to contracts awarded during his tenure.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Justice Abike-Fadipe granted him temporary release on health grounds, ordering 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 his bail application and May 11, 12, 18 and 19, 2026, for trial.

Iloanusi was arraigned before Justice Ismail Ijelu on a 10-count charge bordering on an alleged ₦915.3 million fraud.

According to the charge, he allegedly received ₦160.93 million from NRC contractors through accounts domiciled in Polaris Bank Plc between January 4 and December 30, 2022, while serving as Director of Procurement. The payments were said to be connected 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 till 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 ₦395.19 million fraud.

The EFCC alleged that while serving as Railway District Manager and operating under the name Altech Engineering Services, he received ₦11.39 million from China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), an NRC contractor, through an Access Bank Plc 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 till April 23, 2026, for hearing.

Prosecution counsel, Abba Muhammad, SAN, requested trial dates and urged the courts to remand the defendants pending trial, stating that the prosecution intended to respond to aspects of the bail applications on points of law.

Defence counsel, Mordecai Adejo, informed the courts that bail applications had been filed and served, urging that the defendants be allowed to continue on the administrative bail earlier granted by the EFCC.

The alleged offences contravene Sections 332(1) and 332(3), Section 73(1), and Section 82(c) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.