Justice Maryam Aliyu Hassan of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Gwarimpa, Abuja, has ordered that a former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige, be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre until December 18, when a ruling will be delivered on his bail application.
The order was made on Monday after the court heard arguments for and against the bail request of the former Anambra State governor, who is standing trial on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged corrupt practices.
Counsel to Ngige, Mr Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, urged the court to grant his client bail, citing health concerns and assuring the court that the former minister would neither abscond nor interfere with witnesses if released.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission opposed the application, with its counsel, Mr Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, describing Ngige as a flight risk. He told the court that the defendant had previously been granted administrative bail by the commission and permitted to travel abroad for medical treatment but failed to report back as required.
Tahir further alleged that Ngige did not return the international passport released to him for the trip and only claimed it was lost after his re-arrest. He argued that the claim was an afterthought and urged the court to dismiss the bail application as frivolous.
After listening to submissions from both sides, Justice Hassan adjourned the matter to December 18 for a ruling on the bail application and ordered that Ngige remain in custody until then.
