Court rejects bail for Ngige in alleged N2.2bn fraud case

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Gwarimpa, has ordered the continued remand of former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, at the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, pending the determination of his bail application on Thursday, December 18.

Justice Mariam Hassan gave the order on Monday after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and defence on whether the former minister should be granted bail. The court had earlier, on December 12, ordered Ngige’s remand following his arraignment on an eight-count charge bordering on abuse of office and corrupt enrichment.

Ngige is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations that he abused his position as supervising minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) between September 2015 and May 2023 by awarding contracts to companies linked to his associates and receiving illicit gifts from contractors.

His counsel, Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), urged the court to grant bail on health grounds, assuring that his client would not abscond or interfere with witnesses.

However, EFCC counsel, Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), opposed the application, arguing that Ngige posed a flight risk. Tahir told the court that the anti-graft agency had previously granted Ngige administrative bail and allowed him to travel abroad for medical treatment, but he failed to report back afterwards. He also alleged that Ngige did not return his international passport and only claimed it was lost after his rearrest.

Justice Hassan consequently ordered that Ngige be returned to custody and adjourned the matter until Thursday for a ruling on the bail application.

Ngige is the sole defendant in the charge marked FCT/HC/CR/726/2025. In counts one to five, he is accused of using his office to confer unfair advantages on five companies—Cezimo Nigeria Limited, Zitacom Nigeria Limited, Jeff & Xris Limited, Olde English Consolidated Limited, and Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited—through the award of multiple consultancy, training, supply, and construction contracts allegedly worth about N2.14 billion.

Counts six to eight accuse the former minister of corruptly accepting gifts totalling about N119.8 million through organisations linked to him, allegedly from contractors doing business with the NSITF.

The offences are said to contravene Sections 17 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and are punishable under the relevant provisions of the law.