A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, at the Kuje Correctional Centre over allegations of corruption and abuse of office.
Justice Mariam Hassan issued the order on Friday after Ngige was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an eight-count charge bordering on contract fraud, illegal gratification and conferring undue advantage on associates.
Ngige, who served in the cabinet of former President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2023, pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Bail Application Stalled
The court declined to hear his bail application after EFCC prosecutors informed the court that they had been served only moments before proceedings commenced. Ngige’s counsel, Patrick Ikweato (SAN), urged the judge to grant temporary bail on health grounds, but EFCC counsel, Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), strongly opposed the request, insisting the former minister was a flight risk.
Justice Hassan adjourned the matter to Monday, December 15, for the hearing of the bail application.
EFCC’s Allegations
In charge No. FCT/HC/CR/726/2025, the EFCC alleges that Ngige abused his office as Minister of Labour and supervising minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) to award contracts worth ₦366.4 million to Cezimo Nigeria Limited, a company linked to one of his associates, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles.
He is also accused of receiving monetary gifts running into several millions of naira through his private organisations while in office.
The case continues on Monday.
