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Ngige Remanded As Court Weighs Bail In Massive Contract Fraud Case.

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A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Gwarinpa, Abuja, has reserved ruling on the bail application filed by a former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, who is facing trial over an alleged ₦2.2 billion contract fraud.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

According to Nivo News, the presiding judge, Justice Maryam Hassan, adjourned the matter until Thursday after hearing submissions from counsel representing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the defence team.

Ngige, who served as minister from November 2015 to May 2023, was arraigned last Friday on an eight-count charge bordering on abuse of office and contract fraud allegedly committed in connection with activities linked to the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Following his plea, the court ordered that the former minister be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja pending the determination of his bail request.

The prosecution alleged that Ngige abused his office by accepting kickbacks from companies awarded NSITF contracts and by influencing contract approvals to confer undue advantages on associates. The alleged offences are said to be punishable under provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

Opposing the bail application, the EFCC, through its legal team led by Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, urged the court to refuse the request. The Commission accused Ngige of violating the terms of an earlier administrative bail by failing to return his international passport after travelling abroad for medical treatment in October.

The prosecution further argued that the gravity of the charges, which attract a minimum sentence of five years imprisonment upon conviction, justified denying the bail request.

In response, defence counsel Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, appealed to the court to grant bail, noting that his client had already spent three days in EFCC custody before his arraignment. He maintained that bail is a constitutional right and described Ngige as a well-known public figure who poses no flight risk.

Ikwueto also informed the court that the former minister was not in good health and argued that the correctional facility lacked adequate medical capacity to manage his condition. He stressed that the charges were not capital offences and were therefore bailable, insisting that the allegations would be contested during trial.

The charge sheet alleges that Ngige used his position to influence the award of several NSITF consultancy, training, and supply contracts to companies linked to his associates. These include contracts worth over ₦366 million awarded to Cezimo Nigeria Limited, ₦583 million to Zitacom Nigeria Limited, and ₦362 million to Jeff & Xris Limited.

The EFCC further alleged that the former minister influenced additional contracts worth over ₦829 million in favour of Olde English Consolidated Limited and Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited, both reportedly linked to associates.

The Commission also accused Ngige of corruptly receiving monetary gifts from NSITF contractors between May and June 2022, including sums running into tens of millions of naira allegedly channelled through his campaign organisation, scholarship scheme, and other platforms.

The alleged offences are said to contravene Sections 17(a) and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

The court adjourned proceedings until Thursday for a ruling on the bail application.


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“Name Anyone In ADC As Corrupt As APC Members” — Ex-Osun Governor Osunbor Sparks Debate.

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A former Governor of Edo State, Oserheimen Osunbor, has described the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the strongest platform capable of challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

reports that Osunbor said the ADC represents hope for improved governance in Nigeria, insisting that the country is in urgent need of a leadership reset.

He made the remarks on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he reacted to recent political developments and defections involving the party.

Osunbor dismissed concerns over defections from the ADC, arguing that the party is actually recording more gains than losses.

He said, “There are more people joining the ADC than those leaving. That should give you cause to be happy.

“There is freedom of association, but if at the end of the day there is net gain rather than net loss, we should be satisfied. We don’t have any right to tie anybody down.”

The former governor maintained that the ADC remains a credible political alternative for the 2027 presidential election, adding that Nigeria urgently needs a proper leadership selection process capable of producing competent leaders.

He said, “It offers the best option to rescue Nigeria, to reintroduce good governance in Nigeria because nothing will work unless the leadership recruitment structure is gotten right.”

He further stressed that democratic institutions must be strengthened and allowed to function independently for meaningful national progress.

“Unless democratic institutions are allowed to function as they should, unless the laws and regulations and due process are followed, we will continue to sink deeper into the morass of underdevelopment,” he added.

Osunbor Alleges Plot Against ADC

Osunbor also alleged that some of the legal challenges facing the ADC were politically engineered to weaken the opposition party.

He said, “The legal problems confronting the ADC are orchestrated. I just gave you an example of somebody who was already out of the ADC for a long time, but he was encouraged to stay there and scatter them, fight them.”

He further expressed concern over what he described as increasing executive interference in state institutions, particularly the judiciary.

“What bothers Nigerians is executive interference and the judiciary,” he said.

Responding to criticisms that the ADC is filled with politicians who have held office without significant achievements, Osunbor defended the party’s members.

He said, “Name anybody in ADC who is as bad, who is as corrupt or who is as vile as those in APC.

“If you tell me one corrupt person in ADC, I can show you ten in APC. There is no perfection in this world. Because if we are bad, we are not as bad as the APC.”

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MURIC Raises Alarm Over Alleged Religious Bias In Airport Chapel Project, Relief Distribution.

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The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has accused the Federal Government of showing bias in the proposed construction of a N25 billion ecumenical chapel at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In a statement released on Friday, the organisation’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, said the project—reportedly being developed in collaboration with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)—raises concerns about fairness and equal treatment of religious groups in the country.

MURIC also criticised what it described as uneven distribution of relief funds, pointing to the alleged allocation of N2 billion to victims of violence in Plateau State, while claiming that other affected states such as Borno, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, and Kwara received no comparable support.

The group further questioned reports that N1.2 billion was shared among the 19 northern states for Eid al-Kabir celebrations, arguing that the amount was disproportionately lower compared to the Plateau intervention.

“How can only one state be given N2 billion while all the 19 states in the North are asked to share N1.2 billion? But is it right to treat Muslims like second class citizens, animal farm?” the statement read.

MURIC also called on the Federal Government to clarify its plans regarding Muslim religious infrastructure, urging equal consideration in the allocation of resources.

“So we must ask the federal government to tell Nigerians when land of equal size will be given to Muslims to build their grand national mosque. Of course, the federal government must not forget the N25 billion cooling off somewhere in the Central Bank which will accompany the land allocation for Muslims,” the group added.

The organisation urged authorities to uphold fairness and inclusivity in governance, warning that perceived imbalance could heighten religious tensions in the country.

As of the time of this report, neither the Federal Government nor the Christian Association of Nigeria has issued a response to the allegations.

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Shock Reward: E-Money Gifts Carter Efe ₦50 Million Following Portable Boxing Defeat

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Lagos socialite and businessman, Emeka Okonkwo, popularly known as E-Money, has confirmed that he will fulfil his ₦50 million pledge to social media comedian Carter Efe.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

This comes after Carter Efe secured a unanimous decision victory over street-hop artist Habeeb Badmus, popularly known as Portable, at the Chaos in the Ring 4 event held on Friday night at Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

E-Money reaffirmed his promise after the Chief Executive Officer of Balmoral Group Promotions, Ezekiel Adamu, raised the issue at the end of the event.

He congratulated Carter Efe on his win and reiterated his commitment to the reward.

E-Money said, “You know we put our money where our mouth is, and so congratulations Carter on your win. ₦50 million for you.”

Adamu also praised the success of the event, noting that it met expectations.

He said, “We promised Chaos in the Ring and we have delivered very entertaining fights tonight. There is more coming, thanks to everyone that made this a success and to the fighters for the great display.”

The fight between Carter Efe and Portable was preceded by weeks of heated exchanges between both entertainers.

Portable came into the bout with prior celebrity boxing wins over Charles Okocha and Speed Darlington, which had earned him two belts. Before the fight, he confidently declared that Carter Efe would be his next opponent to secure a third title.

He said, “I will use you to collect my third belt. Charles Okocha was bigger than you, Speed Darlington was bigger than you and I beat them. I will beat you now.”

Carter Efe responded simply, saying, “One punch and you fall.”

When the fight began, Portable opened aggressively with wild punches, but Carter Efe controlled the pace using his height and reach advantage.

As the rounds progressed, Portable continued with wide swings and clinches, while Carter Efe landed cleaner, more effective combinations.

At the end of the bout, all three judges scored it 27–30 in favour of Carter Efe, awarding him a unanimous decision victory and the celebrity boxing title.

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