A former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, was on Friday arraigned before an Abuja High Court in Gwarinpa by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over an alleged N2.2 billion contract fraud linked to his tenure as the supervising minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund.
Justice Maryam Hassan ordered the immediate remand of the ex-minister at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his bail application scheduled for Monday, December 14.
Ngige, who served between September 2015 and May 2023, pleaded not guilty to the eight-count charge bordering on abuse of office and acceptance of gifts from NSITF contractors.
During proceedings, EFCC counsel Sylvanus Tahir (SAN) urged the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendant, saying, “In view of the not guilty plea, we apply for a trial date and request that the accused be remanded at Kuje prison pending commencement of full trial.”
However, defence counsel Patrick Ikwueto (SAN) opposed the remand request and prayed the court to grant Ngige bail on health grounds, noting that he had already spent three days in EFCC custody.
He argued that the former minister was not a flight risk, saying, “The defendant is known across the country. Bail is a constitutional right, and we are prepared to meet any condition the court sets. He needs medical attention even as we speak.”
Ikwueto also faulted the prosecution for allegedly denying the defence adequate time to respond to its affidavit.
“We were not given the opportunity to file our counter-affidavit. If the prosecution is willing, we are ready to respond.”
But the EFCC countered his submission, insisting the charges were serious and should not be trivialised.
“These offences are not minute. If found guilty, the defendant faces no less than five years’ imprisonment,” the prosecution said, adding that Ngige allegedly failed to return his international passport after being allowed to travel for medical treatment in October.
Justice Hassan subsequently adjourned the matter to December 14 for hearing on bail and formally ordered Ngige’s remand in Kuje prison.
