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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.
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