RismadarVoice Reporters
November 12, 2026
A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has testified about presidential directives relating to the operations of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).
Ngige is standing trial before Justice M. A. Hassan of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja over allegations of abuse of office and fraudulent contract awards involving ₦2.26 billion.
The third prosecution witness, Onwusoro Maduka Iheamelam, reportedly told the court on Thursday that he participated in a presidential investigative panel established to examine activities at the NSITF.
During cross-examination by defence counsel, P. I. N. Ikwueto, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Iheamelam discussed directives concerning the implementation of decisions arising from the panel’s findings.
According to the account of the proceedings, the directives included matters relating to procurement functions and other administrative activities of the agency.
Earlier testimony in the trial had examined the transfer of certain procurement responsibilities from the NSITF to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment during Ngige’s tenure.
A previous prosecution witness, Ken Nwagha, told the court that Ngige had verbally informed him of a presidential directive authorising the transfer.
Iheamelam had also testified that correspondence was issued in 2022 concerning the movement of procurement responsibilities to the ministry.
Thursday’s proceedings reportedly featured a disagreement between the prosecution and defence over access to the witness’s earlier statements.
Ikwueto requested the production of the original statements for examination during cross-examination.
However, prosecution counsel Sylvanus Tahir, also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, opposed the request, maintaining that the defence should obtain Certified True Copies through the appropriate procedure.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Ngige on an eight-count charge involving alleged abuse of office and irregular contract awards valued at ₦2,261,722,535.84.
The allegations concern contracts awarded at the NSITF during the period when the former minister supervised the agency.
Ngige has denied the allegations, and the prosecution is required to establish its case before the court.
According to the latest account of the proceedings, Justice Hassan adjourned the matter until February 9, 10 and 11, 2027, for continuation of the trial.
The case remains ongoing, and no conviction has been recorded against the former minister.
