Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Monday reserved ruling until June 2, 2026, on the bail application filed by Felix Njoku, one of the defendants in the alleged ₦2.04 billion fraud and money laundering case involving officials of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).
Njoku, a former Director of Finance of the NRC, is standing trial alongside three other senior officials of the corporation over alleged financial crimes.
At the resumed hearing, Njoku’s counsel, Mordecai Adejo, informed the court that he had filed a motion for bail dated February 3, 2026, supported by an affidavit and written address, which he adopted before the court.
Adejo urged the court to allow his client to continue enjoying the interim bail earlier granted, arguing that the defendant had complied with all conditions attached to the temporary release.
According to the defence counsel, Njoku had consistently reported to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) office as directed and had not violated any of the court’s orders.
He therefore prayed the court to grant the defendant bail pending the conclusion of the trial.
However, the prosecution counsel, Abba Muhammed (SAN), opposed the application, stating that the EFCC had already filed a counter-affidavit and written address against the request.
Muhammed argued that the defence failed to provide sufficient details regarding the defendant’s family ties within Nigeria and claimed that the anti-graft agency possessed information suggesting that the defendant might abscond if granted bail.
The prosecution further submitted that some of the witnesses expected to testify in the matter were current staff members of the Nigerian Railway Corporation and could be influenced by the defendant if released.
Muhammed also informed the court that the prosecution was ready to proceed with trial and had a witness present in court.
After listening to both parties, Justice Abike-Fadipe adjourned ruling on the bail application until June 2.
The court subsequently proceeded with trial as the prosecution called its first witness, Clement Ngbolu, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank Plc.
Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, the witness told the court that he had worked with the bank for about 16 years and was responsible for responding to requests from law enforcement agencies.
Ngbolu testified that Zenith Bank received a letter from the EFCC in June 2025 requesting the statement of account belonging to FC Njoku and Company Ltd.
He stated that the requested documents were generated from the bank’s system, verified, signed and forwarded to the EFCC.
According to him, the EFCC’s letter was addressed to the bank’s Managing Director before it was assigned to him for processing.
During the proceedings, the prosecution tendered the EFCC’s request letter dated June 13, 2025, alongside the bank’s response and account opening documents for FC Njoku and Company Ltd.
The defence did not oppose the admissibility of the documents, following which the court admitted them as exhibits.
The witness also confirmed that the signatories to the company’s account were Njoku Judith Chidima and Njoku Nyaku, while identifying several inflows into the account during his testimony.
Following the witness’ evidence, the prosecution sought an adjournment to continue proceedings.
Justice Abike-Fadipe subsequently adjourned the matter until May 12, 2026, for continuation of trial.
The EFCC had on February 25, 2026 arraigned four senior officials of the NRC before the Lagos State High Court over alleged fraud and money laundering involving more than ₦2.04 billion.
The defendants include former NRC Managing Director, Fidet Okhiria Edetanle; Felix Njoku, former Director of Finance; Benjamin Chinwuba Iloanusi, a Director in the Procurement Department; and Oche Jerry Ogbole-Inalegwu, Director of Mechanical.
Njoku is specifically facing a 17-count charge bordering on alleged unlawful enrichment and money laundering involving ₦736.3 million, to which he pleaded not guilty.
The court had earlier granted him temporary release on health grounds, ordered him to surrender his passport and directed him to report to the EFCC twice weekly pending determination of his bail application.
