An Abuja High Court on Friday ordered the remand of Chris Ngige, former Minister of Labour and Employment in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his bail application.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned him on allegations involving N2.2 billion fraud. Ngige, a former governor of Anambra State, is facing an eight-count charge bordering on fraud and receiving bribes.
Ngige governed Anambra State between May 29, 2003 and March 17, 2006, and later served as Labour Minister from 2015 to 2023. He was arrested by the EFCC on Wednesday.
According to the EFCC, the alleged offences were committed during his tenure as Labour Minister.
The agency accused him of awarding seven contracts totalling more than N366 million for consultancy, training, and supplies under the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) to Cezimo Nigeria Limited, a company owned by his associate, Ezebinwa Charles.
The EFCC also alleged that Ngige approved eight other contracts worth over N583 million for another company owned by Charles. He was further accused of awarding contracts valued at more than N362 million to Jeff & Xris Limited, owned by Nwosu Chukwunwike.
The prosecution added that Olde English Consolidated Limited and Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited—linked to Uzoma Igbonwa received contracts worth N668 million and N161 million respectively.
The agency said these actions breached Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The EFCC also accused Ngige of receiving payments from NSITF contractors through the Senator (Dr Chris Nwabueze Ngige) Campaign Organisation, via transfers made by Cezimo Nigeria Limited into a Zenith Bank account.
The agency alleged he received N38.6 million from Cezimo Nigeria Limited, N55 million from Zitacom Nigeria Limited, and N26 million from Jeff & Xris Limited, contrary to Section 17(a) of the same Act.
Ngige pleaded not guilty.
EFCC counsel Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, asked the court to fix a trial date and to remand Ngige. However, Ngige’s counsel, Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, said they were informed of the arraignment only a day earlier and had not filed a formal bail application. He asked for conditional bail on health grounds and attempted to apply orally based on self-recognition.
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Tahir objected, arguing that the court could not entertain both written and oral bail requests. He also noted that Ngige had not submitted his international passport as required by earlier bail terms. Ikwueto said the passport had been stolen and that the EFCC had been notified, though Tahir said he was not aware of the report.
After hearing both sides, Justice Maryam Hassan ordered Ngige’s remand in Kuje Correctional Centre and fixed Monday for the hearing and determination of his bail application.
