NEWS
FORMER LABOUR MINISTER, CHRIS NGIGE REMANDED IN KUJE PRISON AS EFCC ARRAIGNS HIM ON FRESH CORRUPTION CHARGES
In a dramatic development that has sent shockwaves across political and legal circles, 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 former minister was arraigned on multiple corruption-related charges bordering on abuse of office, unlawful contract awards, and acceptance of illicit gifts during his tenure between 2015 and 2023. He will remain in custody until Monday, when the court is expected to hear arguments on his bail application.
Ngige is accused of using his ministerial position and his role as Supervising Minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) to confer unfair advantage on his associates in the award of several contracts. The charges allege that he manipulated procurement processes to favour Cezimo Nigeria Limited, a company linked to his associate, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles.
The NSITF allegedly awarded seven consultancy, training, and supply contracts worth ₦366,470,920.68 to the company.
He is also accused of corruptly accepting gifts worth several millions of naira through his organisations while in public office.
The former minister pleaded not guilty to all eight charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
However, his bail application could not be entertained because it was served on the prosecution moments before the court session ended.
His lead counsel, Patrick Ikweato (SAN), urged the court to grant temporary bail on health grounds pending the full hearing of the application. But EFCC’s counsel, Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), strongly opposed the move, insisting that Ngige posed a flight risk and that the prosecution would file a formal response to the request.
Justice Hassan, in a brief ruling, adjourned the case to Monday, December 15, for the substantive hearing of the bail application. The case, marked FCT/HC/CR/726/2025, is expected to continue drawing national attention as one of the highest-profile corruption prosecutions in recent times.