A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Gwarimpa, Abuja, has ordered that former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, remain at Kuje Correctional Centre pending a decision on his bail request.
Gatekeepers News reports that the order was made on Monday by Justice Maryam Hassan after listening to submissions from lawyers representing Ngige and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The judge adjourned the matter until December 18 for a ruling on the bail application.
Ngige’s lawyer, Patrick Ikwueto, urged the court to grant bail, citing his client’s health condition and assuring the court that the former minister would not evade trial or interfere with witnesses. He argued that Ngige is a known public figure with a fixed address and strong ties to the country.
However, EFCC counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, opposed the application, describing Ngige as a flight risk. Tahir told the court that the former minister was earlier granted administrative bail and allowed to travel abroad for medical treatment but allegedly failed to report back to the commission as required.
According to EFCC, Ngige also did not return his international passport after the trip. Tahir added that the defendant later claimed the passport was lost after his re-arrest, urging the court to refuse the bail request.
Recall that the former Anambra State Governor was arraigned last Friday on an eight-count charge bordering on abuse of office, contract fraud, and receiving gratification, involving contracts allegedly valued at about N2.14 billion.
EFCC alleged that between 2015 and 2023, while serving as supervising minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Ngige used his position to award multiple consultancy, training and supply contracts to companies linked to associates.
One of the firms, Cezimo Nigeria Limited, was accused of receiving contracts running into hundreds of millions of naira, while other companies allegedly benefited from similar approvals during the same period. The anti-graft agency said the transactions violated provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act.
The commission also accused Ngige of receiving cash gifts through organisations linked to him from companies said to be contractors with the NSITF.
Ngige pleaded not guilty to all the charges upon arraignment, and the court fixed December 18 to determine whether he will be granted bail as the trial proceeds.
