Former Labour Minister, Chris Ngige was arraigned on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged contract fraud and accepting gifts to the tune of N2.2 billion. Photo credit: @OfficialEFCC
A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Gwarinpa, Abuja, has ruled that former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, should continue to enjoy the administrative bail earlier granted to him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Delivering the ruling, Justice Mariam Hassan upheld the bail but imposed additional conditions, directing the former minister to produce a surety who must be a serving director in the Federal Government and own landed property.
The court ordered that the surety deposit the title documents of the landed property, alongside his travel documents, with the court. This arrangement, Justice Hassan said, will remain in place pending the completion of processes for the retrieval of Ngige’s international passport.
Ngige was initially granted bail by the EFCC on self-recognition, with the condition that he submit his travel documents to the commission and provide one surety. Despite the bail, the former Anambra State governor was earlier remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre following his arraignment.
The ex-minister is facing an eight-count charge bordering on alleged corrupt practices involving the sum of ₦2.2 billion. The charge, dated October 31 and filed on December 9, was instituted by a team of prosecutors led by Sylvanus Tahir (SAN).
According to the prosecution, Ngige allegedly committed the offences during his tenure as Minister of Labour and Employment under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
At his arraignment, Ngige pleaded not guilty to all the charges, and the case has been adjourned for further proceedings.
