Federal Capital Territory High Court Abuja has remanded former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, in Kuje Custodial Centre, pending the hearing of his bail application.
The former minister pleaded not guilty to the eight-count charge bothering on fraud allegations, abuse of office and acceptance of gifts from contractors of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, while serving as its supervising minister between September 2015 and May 2023, preferred against him by the federal government.
Ngige, was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday at that FCT High Court Gwarimpa in Abuja, over alleged contract fraud in the tune of N2.2 billion.
After the minister pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him by the federal government, the issue of his bail application arose.
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The prosecution lawyer urged the court to remand Dr. Ngige in Kuje Custodial Centre pending when the application will be heard, while defense counsel urged the court to allow the former Minister and one-time Anambra Governor enjoy the administrative bail granted him by the EFCC.
The defense counsel predicated his argument on health grounds, noting that the former minister has a deteriorating health issue and needs medical attention.
After listening to the arguments of parties in the matter, Justice Maryam Hassan ordered that Dr. Ngige be remanded in Kuje Custodial Centre till Monday, December 15, for the hearing of his bail application.
One of the counts among other reads “That you, Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige, whilst being the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment of the Federal Republic of Nigeria between September 2015 to May 2023, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court and being the supervising Minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), used your said position to confer an unfair advantage upon Cezimo Nigeria Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles is your associate, by the award of 7(Seven) different contracts for consultancy, training and supply by the NSITF to the said company to the tune of N366,470,920.68 (Three Hundred and Sixty Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Nine Hundred and Twenty Naira and Sixty Eight Kobo) only and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
