By RismadarVoice Media, December 12, 2025
A former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, was on Friday arraigned before an Abuja High Court, sitting in Gwarinpa by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on allegations of N2.2bn contract fraud.
Ngige, who served as the supervising minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) between September 2015 and May 2023, pleaded not guilty to eight counts bordering on abuse of office and acceptance of gifts from NSITF contractors.
Justice Maryam Hassan ordered that the former minister be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre, pending the hearing of his bail application scheduled for Monday, December 15.
After the charges were read, EFCC Counsel, Sylvanus Tahir (SAN) asked the court for a trial date and urged that the defendant be kept in custody.
“In view of the not guilty plea entered by the defendant, we humbly apply for the trial date. We further pray, my Lord, that the accused person be remanded at the Kuje prison pending the commencement of the full trial” – Tahir told the court.
Lead defence Counsel, Patrick Ikwueto (SAN) opposed the application, urging the court to grant Ngige bail, citing health concerns, that he had already spent three days in EFCC custody before arraignment.
“The defendant has been in the custody of the EFCC for the past three days, during which the charge was served. The trial will start, we will see how those contracts were awarded. It’s not a terrorism charge or treason offence,”- Ikwueto argued.
He also argued that the defence had not been given enough time to respond to the prosecution’s affidavit.
“We were not allowed time to file our counter-affidavit. If the prosecution will give us time, we will. He added.
Prosecution Counters Defence, Cites Passport Violation
The EFCC, however, insisted that the offences were serious, should not be trivialised, noting that upon conviction, the charges attract a minimum of five years imprisonment.
The prosecution further informed the court that Ngige allegedly failed to return his international passport after being allowed to travel for medical treatment in October.
“The offences with which the defendant was charged are by no means minute; they are rather enormous crimes, in attempt to trivialise the crime and bamboozle the Court,”
the prosecution stated.
Justice Hassan adjourned the matter to December 15 for hearing of the bail application and ordered Ngige be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre.
