A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Gwarinpa, Abuja, yesterday ordered the remand of former minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngige, at the Kuje Correctional Centre following his arraignment on ₦2.2 billion fraud charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC).
Justice Maryam Hassan gave the order after Ngige was docked on an eight-count charge bordering on contract fraud, gratification and abuse of office, and directed that he remain in custody until Monday when the court will hear his bail application.
Ngige, who served as governor of Anambra State between 2003 and 2006 and later as labour minister from 2015 to 2023 under the Buhari administration, was arrested at his Abuja residence on Wednesday. According to the charges filed by the EFCC, the former minister is accused of manipulating contract awards at the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, (NSITF), where he allegedly directed seven contracts worth over ₦366 million to Cezimo Nigeria Limited, a company said to belong to his associate, Ezebinwa Charles. Prosecutors further claim he approved an additional eight contracts valued at more than N583 million to another company linked to the same associate.
The anti-graft agency also alleges that Ngige used his position to extend preferential treatment to other companies connected to close allies. This includes Jeff & Xris Limited, owned by Nwosu Chukwunwike, which reportedly received eight contracts worth over ₦362 million. Olde English Consolidated Limited and Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited, both linked to Uzoma Igbonwa, were similarly awarded contracts totalling ₦668 million and ₦161 million respectively. The EFCC maintains that the conduct violates section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, which prohibits public officers from using their positions to confer undue advantage.
In addition to the contract-related allegations, the prosecution also accuses Ngige of receiving various sums through his political organisation, Chris Nwabueze Ngige Campaign Organisation. The EFCC also said the former minister collected N38.6 million from Cezimo Nigeria Limited, ₦55 million from Zitacom Nigeria Limited and ₦26 million from Jeff & Xris Limited. These alleged gratifications, channelled through designated bank accounts, are said to contravene section 17 of the anti-corruption law and are punishable under section 17(c).
Ngige pleaded ‘not guilty’ to all the charges when they were read to him in open court. Following his plea, EFCC counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, (SAN), urged the court to fix a trial date and commit the defendant to the Kuje Custodial Centre pending the determination of his bail application. However, his defence counsel, Patrick Ikwueto, also a SAN, informed the court that the defence legal team had only been notified of the arraignment the previous day and had not yet been able to file a formal bail application.
Ikwueto requested that the court grant his client conditional bail on account of health concerns and attempted to move an oral application based on self-recognition. The prosecution opposed the request, insisting that the court could not entertain both a written and an oral application and further arguing that Ngige had not yet complied with earlier bail conditions which required him to submit his international passport. Ikwueto responded that the passport had been stolen and that the EFCC had been notified through a written report, a claim the prosecution denied knowledge of.
After listening to both sides, Justice Hassan ruled that the former minister be remanded in prison custody, and adjourned proceedings until Monday to allow for the formal presentation and hearing of his bail application.
