Alleged ₦2.2bn Fraud: Court Remands Ngige in Kuje Priso
An Abuja High Court on Friday ordered the remand of a former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, at the Kuje Correctional Centre, pending the hearing and determination of his bail application.
Ngige was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on allegations bordering on fraud amounting to about ₦2.2 billion. The former Anambra State governor is facing an eight-count charge, including allegations of fraud and acceptance of gratifications.
Ngige, who governed Anambra State under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) between May 2003 and March 2006, later served as Minister of Labour and Employment from 2015 to 2023 under the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari. He was arrested by the EFCC on Wednesday over offences allegedly committed during his ministerial tenure.
According to the anti-graft agency, Ngige abused his office by awarding several contracts through the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) to companies allegedly linked to his associates. The EFCC alleged that seven contracts valued at over ₦366 million were awarded to Cezimo Nigeria Limited, a company said to belong to one Ezebinwa Charles. It further claimed that eight additional contracts worth over ₦583 million were awarded to another firm also linked to the same individual.
The commission further alleged that Ngige gave preferential treatment in the award of eight contracts valued at over ₦362 million to Jeff & Xris Limited, a company owned by Nwosu Chukwunwike. Other firms allegedly involved include Olde English Consolidated Limited and Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited, both linked to Uzoma Igbonwa, with contracts allegedly valued at ₦668 million and ₦161 million respectively.
The EFCC stated that the alleged offences contravened provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000. The agency also accused Ngige of receiving gratifications from NSITF contractors through an organisation linked to him, allegedly collecting ₦38.6 million from Cezimo Nigeria Limited, ₦55 million from Zitacom Nigeria Limited and ₦26 million from Jeff & Xris Limited.
Ngige, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
At the proceedings, EFCC counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant at the Kuje Custodial Centre. Counsel to Ngige, Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, informed the court that the defence was only notified of the arraignment a day earlier and had not filed a formal bail application. He appealed for conditional bail on health grounds and sought to make an oral bail application.
Tahir opposed the move, arguing that the court could not entertain an oral bail request alongside a written process. He also noted that Ngige had not submitted his international passport, which formed part of his earlier bail conditions. The defence countered that the passport had been stolen and that the EFCC had been duly informed, a claim the prosecution said it was unaware of.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Maryam Hassan ordered that Ngige be remanded in the Kuje Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter until Monday for the hearing and determination of the bail application.
Source: Daily Trust
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