By RismadarVoice Media
December 15, 2025
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, December 15, 2025, opposed the bail application of the former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, following his arraignment before Justice M. A. Hassan of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Gwarimpa, Abuja.
Arguing on behalf of the prosecution, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, urged the court to exercise extreme caution in considering the defendant’s request for bail.
He informed the court that Ngige had violated the conditions of an earlier administrative bail granted by the EFCC by failing to return his international passport after being permitted to travel abroad for medical reasons.
According to the prosecution, the former minister had undertaken to return the passport on November 19, 2025, however failed to do so until he was later arrested by the Commission.
“He made an undertaking that he would return the passport on November 19, 2025. The defendant claimed he could not obtain an affidavit of loss in the United Kingdom but chose to return to Nigeria to depose an affidavit. What stopped him from obtaining a police report or affidavit in London?” Tahir queried!
He further argued that Ngige’s actions amounted to a gross breach of the administrative bail granted by the EFCC, adding that the defendant was now seeking bail from the court under similar terms he had already violated.
“What we are saying, my Lord, is that the defendant is in gross breach of the administrative bail granted by the EFCC. He is in violation of Section 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015. He has undermined and jeopardized the provisions of the ACJA. The totality of this case calls for extreme caution”, Tahir submitted, urging the court to refuse the bail application, order an accelerated trial.
In response, defence counsel, Patrick Ikweato, SAN, appealed to the court to grant Ngige bail, relying on the processes and arguments contained in the written application before the court.
“I am asking my Lord to admit the defendant to bail. The grounds are clearly stated in the application. We rely on all the processes as well as the written application”, he said.
After listening to arguments from both parties, Justice Hassan adjourned the matter to Thursday, December 18, 2025, for ruling on the bail application.
Ngige was arraigned on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged contract fraud, acceptance of gifts valued at ₦2,261,722,535.84 (Two Billion, Two Hundred and Sixty-One Million, Seven Hundred and Twenty-Two Thousand, Five Hundred and Thirty-Five Naira, Eighty-Four Kobo).
