Ex–Labour Minister Ngige arraigned, remanded in kuje over alleged N2.2bn fraud

A former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, was on Friday arraigned before an Abuja High Court in Gwarinpa by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over an alleged N2.2bn contract fraud.

Justice Maryam Hassan ordered Ngige’s remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his bail application, which she fixed for Monday, December 14. The former minister pleaded not guilty to eight counts bordering on abuse of office and acceptance of gifts from contractors of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund between September 2015 and May 2023.

Following his plea, EFCC counsel, Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), applied for a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant. “In view of the not guilty plea entered by the defendant, we humbly apply for the trial date. We further pray my Lord that the accused person be remanded at the Kuje prison pending the commencement of the full trial,” he said.

However, defence lead counsel, Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), opposed the request and urged the court to grant Ngige bail on health grounds, noting that he had been held in EFCC custody for three days. He told the court, “The defendant has been in the custody of the EFCC for the past three days, during which the charge was served on him. We can see the charge was filed yesterday and assigned to this Court.”

Ikwueto argued that Ngige was a well-known public figure who would not evade trial. “The issue of whether he will be granted bail or not is a right in our Constitution. The defendant is not an unknown person in this country. Even from the charge, it was stated that he was a minister of this country,” he said.

Appealing further, he added, “I urge your Lordship to grant the defendant bail, and we are ready to grant any requirement your Lordship will put. Even this morning, he mentioned how he needs to go to the hospital. The prosecution is asking for his remand, knowing fully well they don’t have the facility to cater to his health issues at Kuje.”

The defence insisted that the charges were not severe enough to warrant denial of bail, saying, “It’s not like he ate the ministry’s money or that of NSTIF. The trial will start, and we will see how those contracts were awarded. It’s not a terrorism charge or treason offence.”

He also protested that the EFCC did not give them time to file a counter-affidavit, noting, “We were not allowed time to file our own counter-affidavit. If the prosecution will give us time, we will.”

The EFCC countered that the allegations should not be downplayed. “The offences with which the defendant was charged are by no means minute; they are rather enormous crimes that if found guilty, he will spend nothing less than five years in prison,” the prosecution said, adding that Ngige failed to return his international passport after travelling for medical treatment in October.

Justice Hassan adjourned the matter to December 14 and ordered Ngige’s remand in Kuje prison.