Chris Ngige, former Minister of Labour and Productiveness, has been remanded on the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the listening to of his bail software.
Justice Mariam Hassan of the Federal Capital Territory Excessive Court docket gave the remand order on Friday after the {Economic} and {Financial} Crimes Fee (EFCC) arraigned the previous Anambra State governor over an alleged ₦2.2bn corruption offence.
Ngige was arraigned on an eight-count cost.
He nevertheless pleaded not responsible to the eight-count cost.
The choose adjourned the matter to December 15 for the listening to of the bail software.
Throughout Friday’s proceedings, EFCC counsel Sylvanus Tahir requested a date for the graduation of trial and additional requested that the defendant be remanded within the custody of the anti-graft company till then.
Nevertheless, counsel to the defendant famous that Ngige had already been in EFCC custody for the previous three days. He added that the previous minister is a widely known public determine, having served in workplace till a couple of yr and three months in the past.
Ngige’s authorized crew argued that they had been ready to fulfill any bail circumstances, insisting that the ex-minister will not be in good well being and requires medical consideration.
Ngige arrived on the courtroom premises at about 8:10 am within the firm of EFCC operatives.
The eight-count cost, marked FCT/HC/CR/726/2025, lists Ngige as the only real defendant.
In accordance with the cost dated October 31 and filed on December 9 by a crew of attorneys led by Tahir, the alleged offences had been dedicated throughout Ngige’s tenure as Minister of Labour below former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Rely One:
Ngige allegedly used his place as supervising Minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance coverage Belief Fund (NSITF) between September 2015 and Might 2023 to confer an unfair benefit on Cezimo Nigeria Restricted, an organization owned by his affiliate, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles.
He allegedly awarded seven NSITF consultancy, coaching, and provide contracts value ₦366,470,920.68 to the agency.
Rely Two:
The previous minister was additionally accused of utilizing his place to confer an unfair benefit on Zitacom Nigeria Restricted, linked to the identical affiliate, via eight NSITF contracts valued at ₦583,682,686.00.
Rely Three:
Ngige allegedly conferred undue benefit on Jeff & Xris Restricted, owned by his affiliate Nwosu Jideofor Chukwunwike, by awarding eight NSITF consultancy, coaching, and provide contracts value ₦362,043,163.16.
Rely 4:
He was equally accused of favouring Olde English Consolidated Restricted, owned by Uzoma Igbonwa, by awarding 4 NSITF consultancy, coaching, and development contracts totalling ₦668,138,141.00.