Justice Mariam Hassan of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has ordered the remand of former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his bail application.
The remand order followed Ngige’s arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an eight-count charge relating to an alleged ₦2.2 billion contract fraud committed during his tenure as supervising Minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) between 2015 and 2023.
The EFCC’s charges, filed on December 9, accuse the former minister of using his position as supervising Minister of the NSITF to award multiple contracts to companies belonging to his associates, including Cezimo Nigeria Limited, Zitacom Nigeria Limited, and Jeff & Xris Limited. These contracts were allegedly worth over ₦2.2 billion. He is also accused of collecting substantial gratifications from these contractors through his organization, the Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige Campaign Organisation.
The ex-minister, who arrived in court from EFCC custody, pleaded not guilty to all the eight-count charges brought against him.
Ngige’s lead counsel, Patrick Ikweato (SAN), made an oral application to the court, pleading that the former minister be granted bail, particularly on health grounds. The EFCC’s counsel, Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), opposed the request, stressing that the prosecution needed time to respond formally to the bail application.
Justice Hassan concurred with the prosecution on the remand, ordering Ngige’s detention at Kuje Correctional Centre.
The former Anambra State Governor will remain in the Kuje Correctional Centre for the weekend, as his legal team was unable to move his bail application immediately. The hearing for the formal bail application has been adjourned to Monday, December 15, 2025.
Details later…..
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