Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, has fixed June 2, 2026, for ruling on the bail application filed by a former Director of Finance of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Felix Njoku.

Njoku is standing trial over alleged N2.04 billion money laundering charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

At the resumed proceedings, defence counsel, Mordecai Adejo, told the court that he had filed a motion for bail dated February 3, 2026, supported by a four-paragraph affidavit and a written address, which he adopted.

Adejo urged the court to allow his client to continue enjoying the interim bail earlier granted, stressing that Njoku had not breached any conditions.

“My lord, the defendant has not jumped bail. He has consistently reported to the EFCC as directed.”

He further prayed the court to permit the defendant to remain on bail pending the determination of the case.

But prosecution counsel, Abba Muhammed, (SAN), opposed the application, informing the court that the prosecution had filed a counter-affidavit and written address.

He argued that the defence failed to disclose vital details, including the number of the defendant’s family members residing in Nigeria, adding that there was a likelihood the defendant could abscond if granted bail.

Muhammed also raised concerns that some of the prosecution witnesses are staff of the NRC, where Njoku once worked, warning that he could interfere with witnesses and tamper with evidence.

He added that the prosecution was ready to proceed with trial and had a witness in court.

After hearing both sides, Justice Abike-Fadipe adjourned ruling on the bail application till June 2, 2026.

Trial, however, commenced with the testimony of the prosecution’s first witness (PW1), Clement Ngbolu, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank Plc.

Led-in-evidence by Muhammed, the witness told the court that he had worked with the bank for about 16 years and is responsible for responding to requests from law enforcement agencies.

Ngbolu explained that Zenith Bank received a letter from the EFCC in June 2025 requesting the statement of account of FC Njoku and Company Limited.

“The documents were printed from the bank’s system, verified, signed and forwarded to the EFCC,” he said.

He added that the EFCC’s letter, addressed to the Managing Director of the bank, was later assigned to him for processing.

During the proceedings, the prosecution tendered the EFCC’s letter dated June 13, 2025, the bank’s response, and the account opening documents for FC Njoku and Company Limited.

The defence raised no objection, and the court admitted the documents as Exhibits P2, P2A, P2B and P2C.

Ngbolu further told the court that the signatories to the account are Njoku Judith Chidima and Njoku Nyaku, with account number 1014247906, and identified several inflows into the account in tranches.

Following the testimony, the prosecution sought an adjournment to continue examination of the witness.

Justice Abike-Fadipe subsequently adjourned the matter for continuation of trial.

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 amounting to over N2.04 billion.

The defendants include Felix Njoku; a former Managing Director, Fidet Okhiria Edetanle; Benjamin Chinwuba Iloanusi, a serving 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 N736.3 million, to which he pleaded not guilty. (The Guardian)

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