A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Gwarimpa has ordered that former Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, be further remanded in Kuje prison, Abuja, until December 18, when his bail application will be determined.
The court had, on December 12, after he was arraigned on an eight-count, ordered that Ngige be kept in Kuje prison pending the hearing of his bail application on Monday.
Ngige is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on charges bordering on abuse of office and acceptance of gifts from contractors of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) during his tenure as supervising minister from September 2015 to May 2023.
On Monday, Justice Mariam Hassan ordered that Ngige should be returned to prison after she heard arguments from lawyers to the parties on whether or not Ngige deserved to be granted bail.
His lawyer, Patrick Ikwu Monday, shortly after taking arguments for and against the bail request of the former governor of Anambra state.
Ngige’s lawyer, Patrick Ikwueto (SAN) prayed the court to, among others, grant bail to his client on health grounds
He submitted that the former Minister would not jump bail or interfere with the prosecution’s witnesses if granted bail.
Responding, prosecuting lawyer Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), objected, claiming that Ngige is a flight risk.
Tahir said the EFCC had earlier granted Ngige administrative bail and allowed him to travel abroad for medical care, but failed to subsequently report back to the EFCC.
He said the international passport released to him to facilitate his trip abroad was never returned till today.
Tahir argued that it was when Ngige was rearrested that he came up with the idea that he lost his passport, which the prosecuting lawyer termed an afterthought.
He prayed the court to reject Ngige’s application for bail.
Justice Hassan has adjourned till Thursday for ruling.
Ngige is named the sole defendant in the charge marked: FCT/HC/CR/726/2025.
In count one, Ngige is alleged to have l, between September 2015 to May 2023, while being the supervising Minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), used his position to confer an unfair advantage upon Cezimo Nigeria Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles, is his associate.
Ngige is said to have awarded seven different contracts for consultancy, training, and supply by the NSITF to the said company to the tune of N366,470,920.68.
In count two, he is alleged to have, while being the supervising Minister of NSITF, used his position to confer an unfair advantage upon Zitacom Nigeria Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles, is his associate.
Ngige is alleged to have awarded eight different contracts for supply, training, and consultancy, with NSITF, to the said company to the tune of N583,682,686.00 (Five Hundred and Eighty Three Million, Six Hundred and Eighty Two Thousand, Six Hundred and Eighty Six Naira) only.
He is, in count three, accused of using his position to confer an unfair advantage upon Jeff & Xris Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Nwosu Jideofor Chukwunwike is his associate, by the award of eight different contracts for consultancy, training and supplies with NSITF to the said company to the tune of N362,043,163.16 (Three Hundred and Sixty Two Million, Forty Three Thousand, One Hundred and Sixty Three Naira and Sixteen Kobo) only.
In count four, he is alleged to have used his position to confer an unfair advantage upon Olde English Consolidated Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Uzoma Igbonwa, is his associate.
He is accused of awarding four different contracts for consultancy, training, and construction by NSITF to the said company to the tune of N668,138,141.00 (Six Hundred and Sixty Eight Million, One Hundred and Thirty Eight Thousand, One Hundred and Forty One Naira) only.
In count five, the ex-minister is alleged to have used his position to confer unfair advantage upon Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Uzoma Igbonwa, is his associate.
Ngige is said to have awarded four different contracts by NSITF to the said company for consultancy, training, and supply to the tune of N161,604,625.00 (One Hundred and Sixty One Million, Six Hundred and Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Twenty Five Naira) only.
The offences are said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
In count six, Ngige is alleged to have corruptly accepted a gift to the tune of N38, 650,000 (Thirty Eight Million, Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) only, through his “organisation called Senator (Dr) Chris Nwabueze Ngige Campaign Organisation from Cezimo Nigeria Limited (Zenith Bank Account Number 1011901119), a contractor with NSITF, while performing your official act as Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment.”
In count seven, Ngige is alleged to have, while being the minister between September 2015 to May 2023, did corruptly accept a gift, to the tune of N55,003,000 (Fifty Five Million, Three Thousand Naira) only.
The “gift” was allegedly received through his organisation called “Senator (Dr) Chris Ngige Scholarship Scheme from Zitacom Nigeria Limited (Zenith Bank Account Number 1017263219), a contractor of NSITF, while performing your official act as Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment.”
Ngige is, in count eight, alleged to have corruptly accepted a gift, to the tune of N26,130,000 (Twenty Six Million, One Hundred and Thirty Thousand Naira) only, through his organisation called Senator (Dr) Chris Ngige Scholarship Scheme.
The money was said to have been received from Jeff & Xris Limited (Zenith Bank Account Number 1011533930), a contractor with NSITF, while performing his official act as Minister of Labour and Employment.
The offences are said to be contrary to Section 17(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and punishable under Section 179(c) of the same Act.