The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Gwarinpa, Abuja, on Thursday granted bail to a former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, who is standing trial over alleged contract fraud amounting to more than N2.2 billion.
Ngige secured his release six days after he was remanded in prison custody following his arraignment on an eight-count corruption charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a ruling delivered by Justice Maryam Hassan, the court adopted the terms of the administrative bail earlier granted to the defendant by the EFCC. The judge ordered Ngige to produce a surety who must be a civil servant not below the rank of a director and an owner of a landed property within the FCT.
Justice Hassan further directed the defendant to surrender his international passport and restrained him from travelling outside the country without the permission of the court.
The court overruled a preliminary objection filed by the EFCC opposing Ngige’s bail application, holding that the court possessed the discretion to grant bail and that such discretion must be exercised judicially and judiciously, without imposing unreasonable or arbitrary conditions.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to January 28 and 29, 2026, for commencement of trial.
Ngige, who served as Minister of Labour and Employment from November 11, 2015, to May 29, 2023, was arraigned on December 12 by the EFCC over his alleged involvement in contract fraud linked to the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).
Although he pleaded not guilty to the charges, the trial judge ordered his remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the determination of his bail application.
According to the EFCC, the former minister abused his office by conferring undue advantage on companies allegedly linked to his associates through the award of multiple NSITF consultancy, training and supply contracts. The anti-graft agency also accused him of receiving kickbacks from contractors who benefited from the deals.
The offences are said to be punishable under various provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
During the bail hearing, EFCC counsel, led by Mr Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, urged the court to deny the defendant bail, alleging that Ngige violated the terms of an earlier administrative bail by failing to return his international passport after travelling abroad in October for medical treatment.
The prosecution also argued that the gravity of the charges warranted denial of bail, noting that the alleged offences could attract a minimum of five years’ imprisonment upon conviction.
However, defence counsel, Mr Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, pleaded with the court to grant bail, stressing that his client was a well-known public figure who posed no flight risk. He also contended that the defendant had spent several days in EFCC custody before his arraignment and was in poor health, which prison facilities could not adequately manage.
Ikwueto further argued that the charges were bailable offences and did not attract capital punishment, insisting that the allegations would be tested during trial.
In the charge, the EFCC alleged that Ngige approved seven NSITF contracts worth N366.47 million in favour of Cezimo Nigeria Limited, allegedly linked to his associate. He was also accused of approving eight contracts valued at N583.68 million for Zitacom Nigeria Limited, as well as another eight contracts worth N362.04 million for Jeff & Xris Limited, companies said to be associated with his allies.
The prosecution further alleged that Ngige influenced the award of contracts worth over N829 million to Olde English Consolidated Limited and Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited, both allegedly linked to another associate.
Additionally, the EFCC accused the former minister of corruptly receiving monetary gifts from NSITF contractors, including sums of N38.65 million, N55.003 million and N26.13 million through various channels between May and June 2022.
The alleged offences were said to be contrary to sections 17(a) and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
