BREAKING: Ex-Minister Chris Ngige arraigned over 2.2bn fraud, remanded in Kuje

Former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, appeared on Friday before an Abuja High Court in Gwarinpa, facing charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged contract fraud amounting to N2.2 billion.

Justice Maryam Hassan directed that Ngige be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre while his bail application is considered, scheduled for Monday, December 14.

Ngige pleaded not guilty to eight counts, which include abuse of office and receiving gifts from contractors of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSTIF) during his tenure as supervising minister from September 2015 to May 2023.

Following the plea, EFCC’s lead counsel, Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), requested that the court set a trial date and keep the former minister in custody. He told the court:

“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.”

Ngige’s lead defence lawyer, Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), opposed the EFCC’s motion, urging the court to grant bail on medical grounds. He noted that Ngige had already spent three days in EFCC custody before his arraignment. Ikwueto stated:

“The defendant has taken his plea, and your lordship is now in full control of this trial. As I mentioned earlier, 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.

“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. I don’t think there is anybody in this country who will say they don’t know the defendant. Even from the charge, it was stated that he was a minister of this country.

“I urge your Lordship to grant the defendant bail, and we are ready to grant any requirement your Lordship will put to grant him bail. 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.”

Ikwueto added that the allegations against Ngige were not comparable to crimes like terrorism or treason that would justify denying bail.

“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 criticised the EFCC for not allowing the defence adequate time to respond:

“We were not allowed time to file our own counter-affidavit. If the prosecution will give us time, we will.”

The EFCC, however, maintained that the charges are serious and must not be trivialised.

“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 because of the attempt to trivialise the crime and bamboozle the Court,” the prosecution said, adding that Ngige had failed to return his international passport after being permitted to travel abroad for medical treatment in October.

The court adjourned the proceedings to December 14 and ordered Ngige to remain in Kuje Correctional Centre.