The trial of Director of Mechanical Services at the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Nigerian Railway Corporation, Oche Jerry Ogbole-Inalegwu, took a dramatic turn on Thursday as a key prosecution witness detailed how a total of ₦268.5 million was allegedly paid into accounts linked to the defendant by multiple contractors.
The witness, who is Head of Compliance at Access Bank, testified before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos State, on April 23, 2026.
Led in evidence by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Abba Mohammed, the witness told the court that several payments were traced to the defendant’s account between February 2019 and October 2025, amounting to ₦268,503,653.
According to the testimony, the funds originated from various contractors handling Nigerian Railway Corporation projects, including China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), Abads Ventures Limited, Lovcom Associate, Naophil Enterprises, Benches Nigeria Limited, MDC Resources, Waliki Nigeria Limited, Sorchi Marble, KC Services Nigeria Limited, and others.
The court heard that the payments were made into an account linked to Altech Engineering Services, allegedly associated with the defendant, during the period under review.
Ogbole-Inalegwu is standing trial on a nine-count charge bordering on an alleged ₦395.1 million fraud. One of the charges accuses him of receiving ₦11.39 million from CCECC between 2019 and 2019 in connection with contracts handled under his official duties.
During cross-examination, defence counsel, Modechi Adejoh, challenged the witness on how banks record and interpret transaction narratives and identification details of senders and beneficiaries. The witness responded that financial institutions apply varying narrative formats in documenting transfers.
After concluding the day’s proceedings, Justice Dada discharged the witness and adjourned the matter to June 4, 2026 for continuation of trial.
The case continues to draw attention as prosecutors intensify efforts to unravel the alleged financial dealings surrounding railway contracts.
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