The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has opposed a bail application filed by former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige in his ongoing N2.26 billion fraud case during proceedings at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Gwarimpa, Abuja.
Ngige, who served as a minister from 2015 to 2023 and previously as Anambra State governor, was arraigned on December 12, 2025, before Justice Maryam A. Hassan on an eight-count charge involving alleged abuse of office, contract fraud, and acceptance of gratifications totaling N2,261,722,535.84. He pleaded not guilty and was remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the bail hearing.
The charges stem from allegations that Ngige, while supervising the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), improperly awarded contracts worth hundreds of millions to companies linked to his associates and accepted gifts from contractors through affiliated organizations.
Earlier Breach of Bail Conditions
Prosecution counsel Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, urged the court to deny bail, describing Ngige as a flight risk due to his alleged breach of prior administrative bail conditions granted by the EFCC. Tahir highlighted that Ngige was permitted to travel abroad for medical reasons in September 2025 on the condition that he surrender his international passport upon return by November 19, 2025.
According to the prosecution, Ngige returned to Nigeria on November 14 but failed to report to the EFCC or return the passport. He later claimed the passport was lost in the UK, obtaining an affidavit of loss in Nigeria rather than at the location of the alleged loss. Tahir questioned the credibility of this explanation: “What stopped him from obtaining a relevant police report from London? What does Nigerian police know about a loss of passport in the UK?”
Tahir argued that these actions constituted a “gross breach” of administrative bail and violated Section 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015. He warned against granting similar bail terms judicially, stating: “Let us not shoot ourselves in the leg… The totality of this case calls for extreme caution.”
Ngige’s counsel, Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, defended the application, citing health grounds and assuring the court that his client would not jump bail or interfere with witnesses. He maintained that proper reports were made regarding the passport loss.
Justice Hassan adjourned the matter to December 18, 2025, for ruling on the bail application, ordering Ngige to remain in custody until then.
