A former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, was on Friday brought before an Abuja High Court sitting in Gwarinpa by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over allegations of N2.2bn contract fraud linked to his tenure as the supervising minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund.
Presiding judge, Justice Maryam Hassan, ordered that he be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre until his bail application is heard on Monday, December 14.
Ngige entered a not guilty plea to eight counts that revolve around alleged abuse of office and acceptance of gifts from NSITF contractors between September 2015 and May 2023.
Once the plea was taken, EFCC counsel, Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), moved for a trial date and asked the court to keep the former minister in custody until proceedings formally begin.
“In view of the not guilty plea entered by the defendant, we humbly apply for the trial date. We further pray my Lord that the accused person be remanded at the Kuje prison pending the commencement of the full trial,” Tahir told the court.
Defence lead counsel, Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), pushed back. He urged the court to grant Ngige bail on health grounds, stressing that the former minister had already spent three days in EFCC custody before the arraignment.
“The defendant has taken his plea, and your Lordship is now in full control of this trial. He has been in EFCC custody for the past three days, during which the charge was served on him. We can see the charge was filed yesterday and assigned to this Court,” he said.
Ikwueto argued that bail was a constitutional right and noted that Ngige’s public profile made him neither a flight risk nor a stranger to the law.
“I urge your Lordship to grant the defendant bail. We are ready to meet any condition your Lordship considers appropriate.
“Even this morning, he mentioned the need to go to the hospital. The prosecution is asking for his remand, knowing fully well that the facility at Kuje cannot cater to his health needs,” he added.
He also insisted that the allegations before the court did not fall into the category of offences that justify extreme bail restrictions.
“It’s not like he ate the ministry’s money or that of NSITF. This is not a terrorism or treason charge,” he said.
The defence further protested that it had not been given the opportunity to file a counter-affidavit to the EFCC’s application, arguing that due process required time to respond.
The prosecution disagreed strongly, insisting the charges were serious and should not be downplayed.
“The offences with which the defendant was charged are by no means minute. They are enormous crimes that, if found guilty, will attract nothing less than five years in prison.
“The attempt to trivialise the matter and sway the Court should not be entertained,” the EFCC said.
The commission also informed the court that Ngige failed to return his international passport after he was allowed to travel for medical treatment in October.
Justice Hassan adjourned the case to December 14 and ordered Ngige’s remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre.