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Ngige Remanded As Court Weighs Bail In Massive Contract Fraud Case.
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.
The Federal High Court has announced that its 2026 Christmas vacation will begin on Monday, December 21, and end on Tuesday, January 5, 2027.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The court is expected to resume regular sittings on Wednesday, January 6, 2027.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Director of Information of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Dr Catherine Oby Christopher.
According to the statement, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, approved the vacation arrangement and the appointment of judges who will handle cases during the period.
Christopher explained that only designated judicial divisions would remain operational throughout the vacation to provide essential judicial services.
She added that the vacation judges would handle only matters involving the enforcement of fundamental human rights, the arrest or release of vessels, and other issues of urgent national importance, including the trial of pre-election cases.
The statement read:
“Pursuant to the provisions of Order 46, Rule 4(c) of the Federal High Court (Civil) Procedure Rules, 2019, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Hon. Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, KSS, OFR, FCIArb. (UK), has approved the Christmas Vacation of the Court for the year 2026 and the roster of Judges designated to sit during the vacation period.
“The Christmas Vacation shall commence on Monday, 21st December 2026, and end on Tuesday, 5th January, 2027.
“Regular court sittings shall resume on Wednesday, 6th January 2027.
“During the vacation period, only the designated Judicial Divisions shall remain operational to provide judicial services to the litigating public.
“It is important to note that, during the vacation period, the Vacation Judges shall entertain only matters relating to the enforcement of fundamental rights, the arrest or release of vessels, and other matters of urgent national importance such as trial of pre-election cases.”
Full List Of Federal High Court Vacation Judges
The judges designated to handle cases during the Christmas vacation are as follows:
Abuja Judicial Division
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Justice I. E. Ekwo
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Justice O. A. Egwuatu
Lagos Judicial Division
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Justice Akintayo Aluko
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Justice Ogazi F. Nkemakonam
Port Harcourt Judicial Division
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Justice P. M. Ayua
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Justice A. T. Mohammed
Enugu Judicial Division
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Justice F. O. G. Ogunbanjo
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Justice M. T. Segun-Bello
The statement added that the Chief Judge extended Christmas and New Year greetings to all judges and members of the court.
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has departed Nigeria’s U-23 team camp to concentrate on the senior national team’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying fixtures against Tanzania.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Chelle, who also supervises the Olympic Eagles, will be unavailable for Nigeria’s two-legged U-23 AFCON qualifying tie against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) because both teams have matches scheduled during the same international window.
The Olympic Eagles are scheduled to travel to Lubumbashi for the first leg against DR Congo on Friday, November 13. The encounter will take place on the same day the Super Eagles host Tanzania at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
The return leg is slated for Tuesday, November 17, in Ikenne, coinciding with Nigeria’s second meeting with Tanzania.
In Chelle’s absence, assistant coach Deniran Ortega will oversee the Olympic Eagles, working alongside Ikorodu City head coach Bright Ozebagbe.
Ortega reportedly conducted most of the team’s training sessions on Thursday and led the technical crew during their friendly victory over Grassrunners on Friday, ahead of the squad’s departure for the first leg.
Meanwhile, Chelle has selected 23 players for the Super Eagles’ AFCON qualifying matches against Tanzania. Among the notable inclusions are Brighton forward Zadok Yohanna and Molde FC midfielder Daniel Daga.
Goalkeeper Michael Atata and junior international Abdulmuiz Adeleke have also earned places in the squad. Atata will compete for the goalkeeping position alongside Samuel James of SJK FC and Clinton Andy.
Other notable selections include defenders Victory Akpe, Vince Osuji and Emmanuel Ochobi, as well as midfielders Chibuzor Nwoko and Aderemi Adeoye.
The attacking options also feature Peter Edokpolor and Umar Abubakar.
The seven home-based players in the squad are expected to depart Nigeria on Tuesday for the Olympic Eagles’ first-leg encounter against DR Congo at the Stade TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi.
Full Nigeria U-23 Squad
Goalkeepers: Samuel James (SJK FC, Finland); Clinton Andy (Rivers United); Michael Atata (Ikorodu City).
Defenders: Christian Akpan (Genk FC, Belgium); Victory Akpe (FC Basel, Switzerland); Vince Osuji (Tromsø IL FC, Norway); Emmanuel Godwin (Pardubice FC, Czechia); Odinaka Alfred (Nasarawa United); Emmanuel Ochobi (Rivers United); Aliu Sugau (Barau FC).
Midfielders: John Otomewo (Reims FC, France); Daniel Daga (Molde FC, Norway); Wilfred George (Kristiansund FC, Norway); Chibuzor Nwoko (Fulham FC, England); Aderemi Adeoye (Ikorodu City); Sadiq Saleh (FC Metta, Latvia); Victor Samuel (Pardubice FC, Czechia).
Forwards: Peter Edokpolor (SL Benfica, Portugal); Sulaiman Sani (Al-Qadsiah FC, Saudi Arabia); Umar Abubakar (FC Famalicao, Portugal); Zadok Yohanna (Brighton FC, England); Abdullahi Umar (Hradec Kralove, Czechia); Abdulmuiz Adeleke (Sporting Supreme).
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“Behave Yourself!” – Seyi Tinubu Fires Back At Isaac Fayose Over Port Harcourt ‘City Boy’ Walk.
Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, has criticised political commentator Isaac Fayose over his remarks about the City Boy movement’s walk in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Fayose had taken to social media to question the gathering, describing it as a waste of time and expressing doubts about the number of people who attended the event.
Responding in the comment section of the post, Seyi urged the businessman to conduct himself properly instead of criticising the group’s activities.
He defended the Port Harcourt walk, describing it as a successful and peaceful gathering organised by young Nigerians in support of President Tinubu and his administration.
Seyi wrote: “My content creator Egbon e behave ara yin o. You and I both know that those gallant men and women were there for the city boy walk in PH, which was a success by the way. Vote APC.”
In a related development, Fayose has alleged that he is being targeted with false accusations because of his support for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
The younger brother of former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, made the allegation in a video shared on his verified Facebook page on Sunday.
He was reacting to a post by an unnamed blogger linking him to a rape allegation, which he denied, describing it as a fabrication intended to damage his reputation because of his refusal to withdraw support for Obi.
Fayose further alleged that individuals who turn down offers from the All Progressives Congress (APC) are often subjected to smear campaigns.
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