Former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige, has been ordered to be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre until his bail application is heard.
Justice Mariam Hassan of the Federal Capital Territory High Court issued the order on Friday after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the former Anambra State governor on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged ₦2.2 billion corruption. The court has fixed Monday, December 15, for the bail hearing.
During Friday’s proceedings, EFCC counsel Sylvanus Tahir urged the court to set a date for trial and allow the agency to keep Ngige in custody pending his bail application. But Ngige’s counsel opposed the request, arguing that the former minister had already spent three days in EFCC detention and posed no flight risk due to his status as a prominent public figure. He also raised concerns over Ngige’s health, saying he required urgent medical attention.
Ngige arrived at the court at about 8:10 a.m. in the company of EFCC operatives.
According to the charge sheet (FCT/HC/CR/726/2025), dated October 31 and filed on December 9, the alleged offences were committed during Ngige’s tenure as Minister of Labour under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
One of the charges alleges that Ngige abused his office between September 2015 and May 2023 while supervising the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF). He is accused of granting undue advantage to Cezimo Nigeria Limited, owned by his associate, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles. The company reportedly received seven NSITF contracts worth ₦366,470,920.68.
Similarly, Zitacom Nigeria Limited also linked to Ezebinwa allegedly secured eight contracts valued at ₦583,682,686.
The EFCC further alleged that Ngige extended preferential treatment to Jeff & Xris Limited and Olde English Consolidated Limited, companies linked to his associates, through multiple consultancy, training, supply, and construction contracts running into hundreds of millions of naira.
Ngige pleaded not guilty to all charges, after which the court ordered his remand in Kuje Prison pending the hearing of his bail application on Monday.
Discover more from ParrotMouth
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
