Justice Mariam Hassan of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has ordered the remand of former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his bail application.
Ngige was arraigned on Friday on an eight‑count charge bordering on corruption, including allegations that he conferred unfair advantage on associates through contract awards during his tenure as minister between 2015 and 2023. He is also accused of accepting gifts worth several millions of naira through organisations linked to him while in office.
The former minister pleaded not guilty to all charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
His bail application, however, could not be heard as it was served on the prosecution moments before the court session began. Lead defence counsel, Patrick Ikweato (SAN), urged the court to grant temporary bail on health grounds, but EFCC counsel Sylvanus Tahir (SAN) opposed the request, arguing that Ngige posed a flight risk and that the prosecution would formally respond to the application.
Justice Hassan adjourned the matter to Monday, December 15, for the hearing of the bail application and ordered that Ngige be remanded in Kuje prison until then.
According to the charge marked FCT/HC/CR/726/2025, count one alleges that Ngige, in his capacity as Minister of Labour and Employment and Supervising Minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), used his position to “confer an unfair advantage upon Cezimo Nigeria Limited,” a company linked to his associate, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles. The alleged advantage involved the award of seven consultancy, training and supply contracts worth ₦366,470,920.68.
