Ex-Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, don collect bail from High Court for FCT, Gwarinpa, Abuja, over N2.2 billion contract fraud wey EFCC dey accuse am of. Court don fix January 28 and 29, 2026 for trial.
Justice Maryam Hassan deliver the ruling on Thursday, wey follow the administrative bail wey EFCC don already give Ngige. For bail, Ngige gots provide one surety wey be civil servant wey no dey below director rank and get landed property for FCT. Him must also surrender him international passport and no fit travel go outside country without court permission.
Ngige wey serve as minister from November 2015 reach May 2023, dey face eight-count charge wey involve abuse of office and collecting kickbacks from companies wey dem give NSITF contracts. EFCC talk say Ngige use him position to favour him friends and associates with contracts worth billions of naira.
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For court, EFCC oppose bail, talk say charge serious and Ngige don violate previous administrative bail. But Ngige lawyers talk say all the allegation na bailable offence, plus say Ngige well-known for country, don spend three days for EFCC custody before arraignment, and him health no too good for prison.
EFCC accuse am say him approve contracts for companies linked to him friends, like Cezimo Nigeria Limited, Zitacom Nigeria Limited, Jeff & Xris Limited, and Olde English Consolidated Limited, totalling over N2.2 billion, and collect extra money from some of them.
Justice Hassan overrule EFCC objection and adjourn case till January 28 and 29, 2026 for trial.