N2.2bn Fraud Case: Court Grants Ngige Bail After One Week In Kuje.

Justice Maryam Aliyu Hassan of the Federal Capital Territory High Court has granted bail to former Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige, on what the court described as liberal terms, pending the determination of the charges filed against him.

In her ruling delivered on Thursday, the judge adopted the administrative bail earlier granted to Ngige by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on self-recognition as part of the bail conditions.

Justice Hassan further ordered the former Anambra State governor to present a surety who must be a serving director in the Federal Government.

The surety is required to own landed property within the Federal Capital Territory, supported by a valid Certificate of Occupancy, and must deposit the original copy of the document with the court.

In addition, the surety is to submit his international passport to the court registrar.

The court ordered that Ngige should remain in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre until all bail conditions are fully met.

In her decision, Justice Hassan held that the offences against Ngige are bailable and reaffirmed that the Constitution presumes him innocent until proven otherwise.

She also cautioned courts against imposing excessive or unrealistic bail conditions, noting that doing so could amount to a denial of bail altogether.

Ngige was arraigned on December 12, 2025, on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged corrupt practices. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

His counsel, Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, argued the bail application on December 15, 2025. However, the application was strongly opposed by EFCC counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN.

Tahir argued that Ngige had previously jumped bail granted by the anti-graft agency. He also claimed that the former minister failed to return his travel documents after being allowed to travel abroad and did not report back to the EFCC until he was rearrested.

Meanwhile, the court has fixed January 28 and 29 for the commencement of trial.

According to the charge marked FCT/HC/CR/726/2025, dated October 31, 2025, and filed on December 9, 2025, Ngige was accused of committing the offences while serving as Minister of Labour under the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.

In the first count, Ngige was alleged to have, between September 2015 and May 2023, used his position as supervising minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund to give undue advantage to Cezimo Nigeria Limited.

The company’s Managing Director and alter ego, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles, was described as his associate. Ngige was said to have approved seven consultancy, training and supply contracts worth N366.4 million for the firm.

In count two, he was accused of similarly favouring Zitacom Nigeria Limited, also linked to Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles, by awarding eight NSITF contracts valued at N583.6 million.

The third count alleged that Ngige conferred unfair advantage on Jeff & Xris Limited, owned by Nwosu Jideofor Chukwunwike, through the award of eight NSITF contracts worth N362 million.

Count four accused him of awarding four consultancy, training and construction contracts valued at N668.1 million to Olde English Consolidated Limited, whose MD and alter ego is Uzoma Igbonwa.

In count five, Ngige was alleged to have awarded four NSITF contracts worth N161.6 million to Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited, also linked to Uzoma Igbonwa.

The offences are said to be contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

In count six, Ngige was accused of corruptly receiving N38.6 million through his “organisation called Senator (Dr) Chris Nwabueze Ngige Campaign Organisation from Cezimo Nigeria Limited (Zenith Bank Account Number 1011901119), a contractor with NSITF, while performing your official act as Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment”.

Count seven alleged that he corruptly received N55 million through his “organisation called Senator (Dr) Chris Ngige Scholarship Scheme from Zitacom Nigeria Limited (Zenith Bank Account Number 1017263219), a contractor NSITF, while performing your official act as Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment.

In count eight, the former minister was accused of receiving N26.1 million through his organisation called Senator (Dr) Chris Ngige Scholarship Scheme from Jeff & Xris Limited (Zenith Bank Account Number 1011533930), a contractor with NSITF, while carrying out his official duties.

The offences in counts six to eight are contrary to Section 17(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and punishable under Section 17(c) of the same Act.