RismadarVoice Reporters
June 25, 2026
The trial of former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, continued on Wednesday before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Gwarinpa, Abuja, with two prosecution witnesses alleging that the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment assumed the procurement functions of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) under his leadership.
Ngige is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office and fraudulent award of contracts amounting to N2,261,722,535.84.
The proceedings, presided over by Justice M.A. Hassan, featured the testimony of the second and third prosecution witnesses.
Ex-NSITF Acting MD Testifies
The second prosecution witness (PW2), Ken Nwagha, a former Acting Managing Director of NSITF, told the court during cross-examination by defence counsel, P.I.N. Ikwueto, SAN, that Ngige informed him verbally that there was a presidential directive authorising the transfer of the agency’s procurement functions to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.
According to Nwagha, no written presidential directive was presented to him regarding the transfer.
Permanent Secretary Corroborates Evidence
The third prosecution witness (PW3), Onwusoro Maduka Iheamelam, a Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, corroborated the testimony of the former Acting Managing Director.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, Iheamelam told the court that while serving as Director of Procurement at NSITF, he received a letter in 2022 indicating that the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment had taken over the procurement functions of the agency.
He explained that the defendant wrote to the Permanent Secretary conveying the decision and that, acting on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, he communicated the directive to the Managing Director of NSITF.
Procurement Procedures Explained
Iheamelam, who also served as Director of Procurement in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and was a member of the Ministry’s Ministerial Tenders Board (MTB) between 2019 and 2023, explained the procurement approval process applicable to government agencies.
He told the court that procurement regulations prescribe financial thresholds for approvals by the Parastatal Tenders Board (PTB) and the Ministerial Tenders Board.
According to him, contracts exceeding the approval limit of the Parastatal Tenders Board were referred to the Ministerial Tenders Board for consideration and approval.
Trial Continues July 2
Following the testimonies, Justice Hassan adjourned the matter until July 2, 2026, for continuation of the trial.
The EFCC alleges that Ngige abused his office in relation to the award of contracts valued at over N2.26 billion. The former minister has denied the allegations, and the matter remains before the court.
