Former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, was on Friday arraigned before an Abuja High Court in Gwarinpa by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged ₦2.2 billion contract fraud linked to the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).
Ngige, who served between 2015 and 2023, pleaded not guilty to an eight-count charge bordering on abuse of office and accepting gifts from contractors allegedly connected to NSITF projects.
Presiding judge, Justice Maryam Hassan, ordered that the former minister be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending a hearing on his bail application scheduled for December 14.
Following Ngige’s plea, EFCC counsel Sylvanus Tahir (SAN) asked the court to fix a trial date and urged that the defendant remain in custody to ensure his availability for proceedings.
However, lead defence counsel Patrick Ikwueto (SAN) opposed the remand request and urged the court to grant bail on health grounds. He argued that Ngige, as a prominent public figure, posed no flight risk and had already spent three days in EFCC custody. He added that the charges were not comparable to terrorism or treason to justify stringent bail conditions.
Ikwueto also protested that the defence was not given adequate time to respond to the prosecution’s application.
The EFCC countered that the alleged offences were grave and carried minimum penalties of five years imprisonment, further alleging that Ngige failed to return his passport after a medical trip in October.
Justice Hassan thereafter adjourned the matter to December 14, 2025, and ordered Ngige’s continued detention at Kuje prison.
