A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, sitting in Gwarinpa, on Friday ordered the remand of a former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, in Kuje Correctional Centre over alleged contract fraud.
Justice Maryam Hassan made the order after Ngige pleaded not guilty to an eight-count charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The court ruled that the former minister should remain in custody until Monday, when his bail application will be heard.
Ngige, who served as minister between November 11, 2015 and May 29, 2023, is facing trial over allegations of contract fraud involving more than N2.2bn linked to the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund.
The EFCC alleged that the former minister abused his office and received kickbacks from companies awarded NSITF contracts. He was also accused of using his position to give unfair advantage to firms linked to his associates.
According to the charge, the offences are punishable under various sections of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
After Ngige entered his plea, the prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, asked the court to remand him in prison custody and fix a date for trial.
However, defence counsel, Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, urged the court to grant his client bail, noting that Ngige had already spent three days in EFCC custody before his arraignment.
Ikwueto told the court, “Today, the defendant has taken his plea, and your lordship is now in full control of this trial. The defendant has been in the custody of the EFCC for the past three days, during which the charge was served on him.”
He added, “The issue of bail is a constitutional right. The defendant is not an unknown person. He was a minister of this country, and we are ready to meet any bail conditions the court may impose.”
The lawyer also raised health concerns, saying, “Even this morning, he mentioned how he needed to go to the hospital. The prosecution is asking for his remand, knowing fully well that they don’t have the facility to cater to his health issues at Kuje.”
Ikwueto further argued that the charges were not capital offences. He said, “It is not a terrorism or treasonable offence. The trial will show how those contracts were awarded.”
Responding, the EFCC lawyer opposed the bail request, insisting that the charges were serious.
He said, “The offences for which the defendant was charged before this court are by no means minute. If found guilty, he will spend nothing less than five years in prison.”
The prosecution also claimed that Ngige violated the terms of an earlier administrative bail by failing to return his international passport after travelling abroad for medical treatment in October.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Hassan ordered Ngige’s remand and adjourned the case until Monday.
In the charge, the EFCC alleged that Ngige approved seven NSITF consultancy, training and supply contracts worth N366,470,920.68 for Cezimo Nigeria Limited, a company linked to one of his associates.
The commission further alleged that between September 2015 and May 2023, he approved eight NSITF contracts valued at N583,682,686 for Zitacom Nigeria Limited, said to be linked to another associate.
