12.12.2025
Former minister of labour Chris Ngige will spend the weekend at the Kuje Correctional Centre after been remanded by a High Court sitting in Gwarinpa in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Ngige was dragged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over allegations of fraud and accepting bribes over the N2.2 billion.
Trial judge Maryam Hassan ordered him to be remain in custody pending the hearing of his bail application scheduled for Monday.
Mr Ngige, a former governor of Anambra State on the Peoples Democratic Party’s platform from May 2003 to March 2006, served as Nigeria’s labour minister from 2015 to 2023, during the late former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
According to the charges subsequently filed against him, 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 Charles.
The prosecution similarly accused him of awarding eight contracts worth over N583 million to another company belonging to Mr Charles.
The EFCC also alleged that the defendant used his position to give preferential treatment, awarding eight contracts worth over N362 million to a company, Jeff & Xris Limited, belonging to Nwosu Chukwunwike.
Other companies he allegedly awarded contracts under controversial circumstances 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.
According to the EFCC, these offences violate section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.