Justice Maryam Hassan of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting at Gwarimpa, Abuja, today reserved ruling in the bail application brought before the court by the immediate past Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, till Thursday.
Ngige, a two-term minister and a former governor of Anambra State, was last Friday, December 12, arraigned before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on behalf of the Federal Government, on an eight-count charge bordering on contract fraud and receiving gratifications.
According to the charge preferred against the two-term minister, the EFCC accused him of awarding seven contracts worth over N366 million “for consultancy, training and supply by the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF)” to a company, Cezimo Nigeria Limited, belonging to his associate, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles.
Ngige was further accused of awarding eight contracts worth over N583 million to Zitacom Nigeria Limited, also belonging to Charles.
The former governor was also accused of using his position to give preferential treatment, awarding eight contracts worth over N362 million to a company, Jeff & Xris Limited, belonging to Nwosu Chukwunwike.
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Other companies he was alleged to have awarded contracts to include Olde English Consolidated Limited and Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited, belonging to Uzoma Igbonwa, to the sum of N668 million and N161 million, respectively.
These offences allegedly committed by Ngige, who served as a minister under the administration of late former President Muhammadu Buhari between 2015 and 2023, are contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Also, the former Anambra helmsman was accused of collecting gratifications from contractors of the NSITF through “his organisation, called Senator (Dr Chris Nwabueze Ngige Campaign Organisation from Cezimo Nigeria Limited (Zenith Bank Account Number 1011901119)”.
He was alleged to have collected the sum of N38.6 million from Cezimo Nigeria Limited, N55 million from Zitacom Nigeria Limited, and N26 million from Jeff & Xris Limited.
According to EFCC, this is contrary to Section 17(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and punishable under Section 17(c) of the same Act.
Ngige, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges read to him in the open court.
Justice Hassan had ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Kuje correctional facility pending the hearing of his bail application today.
After listening to parties at today’s proceedings in the case, the judge reserved her ruling till Thursday. With this development, the former governor is to remain in Kuje depending on the determination of his application.
