EFCC Arraigns Three NRC Officials Over Alleged ₦2.04bn Fraud In Lagos

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, arraigned three senior officials of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) at the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja over alleged fraud and money laundering offences.

The defendants are Felix Njoku, a former Director of Finance of the Nigerian Railway Corporation; Benjamin Chinwuba Iloanusi, presently a Director in the Procurement Department of the NRC, and Oche Jerry Ogbole, presently Director Mechanical.

They were arraigned on separate charges bordering on alleged abuse of office, money laundering, and unlawful enrichment by public officials to the tune of over ₦2.04 billion.

Mr Njoku was arraigned before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, on a 17-count charge involving an alleged fraud of ₦736,320,807.08, said to have been committed in 2024.

It was alleged that Njoku, after leaving office as Director of Finance of the NRC, between January 2 and December 3, 2024, received ₦240,940,000.00 from NRC contractors through the bank account of FC Njoku and Company, domiciled in Zenith Bank Plc, linked to contracts awarded during his tenure.

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.

The payments were allegedly connected to contracts awarded in the course of his official duties.

While Ogbole 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.

It was alleged that while Ogbole was serving as Railway District Manager and operating under Altech Engineering Services, allegedly received ₦11,397,500.00 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.

All defendants pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.

Following their pleas, the 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.

The defence counsel, 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 Felix Njoku 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 matter was adjourned to March 10, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application and May 11, 12, 18, and 19, 2026, for the commencement of the trial.

Justice Ismail Ijelu remanded Iloanusi in a correctional centre and adjourned the case till March 3, 2026, for the hearing of his bail application and commencement of trial.

Justice Dada allowed Ogbole to continue enjoying the administrative bail earlier granted by the EFCC and adjourned the case till April 23, 2026, for hearing.