A former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, was on Friday arraigned before an Abuja High Court in Gwarinpa by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged N2.2 billion contract fraud.
Justice Maryam Hassan ordered that Ngige be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his bail application, scheduled for Monday, December 14.
Ngige pleaded not guilty to eight counts involving abuse of office and acceptance of gifts from contractors of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund while he supervised the ministry between September 2015 and May 2023.
Following his plea, EFCC counsel Sylvanus Tahir (SAN) requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the former minister.
“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 Kuje prison pending the commencement of the full trial,” Tahir submitted.
Lead defence counsel, Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), opposed the EFCC’s request, urging the court to grant bail on health grounds, noting that Ngige had been in EFCC custody for three days prior to the arraignment.
“The defendant has taken his plea, and your lordship is now in full control of this trial,” Ikwueto said. “He has been in EFCC custody for three days, during which the charge was served. The issue of bail is a constitutional right. The defendant is a well-known public figure and former minister. We urge the court to grant bail, and we are ready to meet any condition imposed. He also needs access to proper medical care, which is not available at Kuje.”
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He argued that the allegations were not comparable to terrorism or treason charges 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,” Ikwueto stated.
He also challenged the EFCC’s application, saying the defence was not given time to respond.
“We were not allowed time to file our own counter-affidavit. If the prosecution will give us time, we will.”
The prosecution, however, countered him, noting that the defendant’s alleged offence was not trivial and should not be downplayed by the defence.
“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.
He told the court that Ngige failed to return his international passport after he was permitted to travel for medical treatment in October.
The court adjourned the matter to December 14 and ordered Ngige’s remand in Kuje.
