An Abuja High Court has ordered the remand of Chris Ngige. The former Minister of Labour and Employment will stay at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
Justice Maryam Hassan delivered the ruling on Friday. This decision followed his arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The commission charged Ngige with an alleged N2.2 billion contract fraud.
Ngige served as the supervising minister for the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) between September 2015 and May 2023. He faces an eight-count charge. The allegations include abuse of office and accepting gifts from contractors associated with the fund.
Upon reading the charges, Ngige pleaded not guilty.
The Battle for Bail
Following the plea, legal teams for the prosecution and defense clashed over the defendant’s custody.
The Defense Argument Lead defense counsel, Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), urged the court to grant bail. He cited health grounds.
Ikwueto emphasized that the former minister spent three days in EFCC custody before the arraignment. He argued that Ngige requires medical attention that the correctional facility cannot provide.
Furthermore, Ikwueto insisted that Ngige is a prominent figure. He argued that the former minister does not pose a flight risk.
“The defendant is not an unknown person in this country,” Ikwueto stated. He dismissed the notion that the allegations warranted continued detention.
The Prosecution Argument EFCC counsel, Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), strongly opposed the bail application.
He described the charges as “enormous crimes.” Tahir noted that a conviction could carry a prison term of at least five years.
The prosecution also raised a significant concern regarding flight risk. Tahir informed the court that Ngige failed to return his international passport. This occurred after authorities granted him permission to travel for medical treatment in October.
“The offences… are by no means minute,” Tahir argued. He accused the defense of attempting to trivialize the crime.
The Ruling
Justice Hassan ordered that Ngige be remanded in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
The judge adjourned the case until Monday, December 14. The court will hear the bail application at that time.
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