By Deborah Nnamdi
Former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, has been ordered remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre by Justice Mariam Hassan of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Gwarinpa, following his arraignment on an eight-count corruption charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Ngige, who arrived in court around 8:10 a.m. on Friday in the custody of EFCC operatives, pleaded not guilty to all allegations, which include conferring unfair advantage on associates, abuse of office, and accepting financial gifts through organisations linked to him during his tenure as Minister of Labour and Employment and Supervising Minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) from 2015 to 2023.
According to the charge marked FCT/HC/CR/726/2025, the former minister allegedly awarded contracts worth over ₦2.14 billion to companies connected to his associates, including Cezimo Nigeria Ltd., Zitacom Nigeria Ltd., Jeff & Xris Ltd., Olde English Consolidated Ltd., and Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Ltd. One of the counts specifically accuses him of awarding seven contracts valued at ₦366.47 million to Cezimo Nigeria Ltd., linked to an associate, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles.
The EFCC further alleged that Ngige received financial gifts totalling ₦119.7 million through the Chris Ngige Campaign Organisation and the Chris Ngige Scholarship Scheme from companies that were contractors to the NSITF while he was in office. The agency says the actions contravene Sections 17(a) and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Although Ngige’s defence team, led by Patrick Ikweato (SAN), applied for bail on health grounds, EFCC counsel Sylvanus Tahir (SAN) opposed the request, arguing that the former minister posed a flight risk. The court could not hear the bail application as the prosecution had only just been served the documents before the session began.
Justice Hassan adjourned to Monday, December 15, for the hearing of the bail application and ordered Ngige’s remand in Kuje pending the court’s decision.
