By Our Correspondent
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Gwarimpa, Abuja, on Friday rejected an oral bail application by former Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige, ordering that he be remanded in Kuje Prison until December 15.
Ngige’s formal bail application, prepared by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Patrick Ikwueto, could not be taken because it was not yet ripe for hearing.
The former Anambra State governor was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on an eight-count charge bordering on corrupt practices. He pleaded not guilty to all counts.
Although his lawyer attempted to move the written bail application, EFCC counsel Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, strongly objected, arguing that he had only just been served and needed time to respond. When Ikwueto sought to make an oral bail request, Justice Maryam Aliyu Hassan declined.
Justice Maryam ruled that the formal application would be heard on Monday, December 15, and ordered that Ngige remain in Kuje prison until then.
In the charge marked FCT/HC/CR/726/2025, Ngige is the sole defendant. The EFCC alleged that, between September 2015 and May 2023, while serving as Minister of Labour and supervising the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), he abused his office by awarding multiple contracts to companies linked to his associates.
The charges detail contracts allegedly awarded to various companies—including Cezimo Nigeria Limited, Zitacom Nigeria Limited, Jeff & Xris Limited, Olde English Consolidated Limited, and Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited—amounting to over N2.1 billion.
Ngige is also accused of receiving monetary gifts totaling over N119 million through his political and scholarship organisations from NSITF contractors while performing official duties, contrary to Sections 17 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The court will resume hearing on the bail application on December 15.
