The former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has been ordered to remain in custody at Kuje Correctional Centre until 18 December, when a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory will rule on his bail application.
Justice Maryam Hassan, sitting at Gwarimpa in Abuja, issued the remand order on Monday after hearing arguments on Ngige’s bail request.
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The former Anambra State governor faces an eight-count charge of alleged corrupt practices involving over N2.2 billion, brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Ngige was initially arraigned last Friday and remanded pending Monday’s bail hearing. His counsel, Patrick Ikwueto SAN, urged the court to grant bail primarily on health grounds, insisting that the ex-minister posed no flight risk and would neither jump bail nor interfere with witnesses.
However, EFCC prosecutor Sylvanus Tahir SAN strongly opposed the application, labelling Ngige a flight risk. Tahir argued that Ngige had been granted administrative bail by the commission to travel abroad for medical treatment but failed to report back afterwards.
He further noted that Ngige’s international passport, released to facilitate the trip, was never returned, and claims of its loss emerged only after his re-arrest.
Dismissing the passport loss explanation as an afterthought, Tahir urged the court to reject the bail plea as frivolous.
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After considering submissions from both sides, Justice Hassan adjourned the matter to 18 December for her ruling on the bail application, ordering Ngige’s continued detention at Kuje prison in the interim.
The charges stem from allegations that Ngige, while supervising the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, improperly awarded contracts to companies linked to his associates and accepted gratifications.
