The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)on Friday arraigned former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, before an Abuja High Court in Gwarinpa over an alleged N2.2bn contract fraud.
Justice Maryam Hassan ordered that Chris Ngige be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre until his bail request is considered on Monday, December 14.
Ngige pleaded not guilty to eight charges, which include abuse of office and receiving gifts from contractors working with the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund while he oversaw the agency between September 2015 and May 2023.
After he was arraigned, EFCC lawyer Sylvanus Tahir (SAN) asked the court to fix a date for trial and to send the former minister to prison custody in the meantime.
He argued that since Ngige had pleaded not guilty, the case should proceed formally.
He said, “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.”
However, Ngige’s lead counsel, Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), asked the court to release his client on bail, citing health concerns, and pointed out that Ngige had already spent three days in EFCC custody before his arraignment.
He stressed that the charges were only filed the previous day and assigned to the court shortly before the hearing.
Ikwueto argued that Ngige deserved bail, saying he was well-known, not a flight risk, and had a constitutional right to apply for bail.
He added that the former minister needed medical care and that the correctional facility did not have the capacity to handle his health needs.
He said, “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.”
He maintained that the accusations were far from offences like terrorism or treason that would normally justify keeping an accused person behind bars.
“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.
The defence also protested that they had not been given the opportunity to reply to the EFCC’s request for remand.
“We were not allowed time to file our own counter-affidavit. If the prosecution will give us time, we will.”
The prosecution disagreed, insisting the charges were serious and should not be dismissed lightly.
They added that Ngige had failed to return his passport after being allowed to travel for medical treatment in October.
“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.
The judge then adjourned the hearing to December 14 and ordered that Ngige remain in Kuje Correctional Centre until the bail application is heard.
KanyiDaily recalls that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) previously questioned Chris Ngige over his involvement in alleged contracts and job racketeering during his tenure.
