A former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has been remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his bail application scheduled for Monday.
Ngige was arraigned on Friday before an FCT High Court on an eight-count charge bordering on corruption. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission accused him of abusing his office between 2015 and 2023 by allegedly awarding multiple contracts to associates and accepting gifts worth several millions of naira through his companies.
He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The defence team, led by Patrick Ikweato (SAN), urged the court to grant the former minister temporary bail on health grounds. However, EFCC counsel, Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), objected, arguing that Ngige posed a flight risk and that the prosecution needed time to formally respond to the application.
Justice Hassan adjourned proceedings to Monday, December 15, for the hearing.
In the charge marked FCT/HC/CR/726/2025, the EFCC alleged that Ngige, in one of the counts, used his office as Minister of Labour and supervising minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund to confer undue advantage on Cezimo Nigeria Limited, a company linked to his associate, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles. The company reportedly received seven NSITF contracts worth N366.47 million for consultancy, training and supply services.
