The Federal Capital Territory High Court has adjourned to December 18 to rule on the bail application filed by former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, in the ongoing fraud allegation suit against him.
The court again, ordered that he be remanded in Kuje correctional center pending the hearing of the application.
Justice Hassan issued the order on Monday shortly after taking arguments for and against the bail request of the former governor of Anambra state.
Counsel for Ngige, Patrick Ikwueto SAN pleaded with the Judge to admit the former Minister to bail on health grounds, submitting that the defendant would not jump bail or interfere with witnesses if admitted to bail.
The prosecution counsel Sylvanus Tahir, opposed the bail request insisting that Ngige is a flight risk, adding that the defendant was granted administrative bail by the EFCC and allowed to travel abroad for medical care but never reported back to the commission.
He also reminded the court that the international passport released to him to facilitate his trip abroad was never returned, and when the former minister was re-arrested, he came up with claims that he lost his passport.
He urged the court to dismiss the bail application to which Justice Hassan then adjourned for ruling.
The former Minister is facing an 8-count charge bothering on fraud allegations, abuse of office and acceptance of gifts from contractors of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund while serving as its supervising minister between September 2015 and May 2023, preferred against him by the federal Government. He has, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
(Editor: Roluke Ogundele)
