Alleged N2.2bn fraud: Ngige gets bail in liberal terms after 7 days in Kuje Prison 

Justice Maryam Aliyu Hassan of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has admitted former Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige to bail on liberal terms pending  the trial of charges against him.

The judge on Thursday adopted the administrative bail earlier granted the former governor of Anambra State by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on self recognizance, as part of the bail conditions.

In addition Justice Hassan ordered Ngige to produce a surety who must be a director in the service of the Federal Government.

The director must have landed property in the FCT with Certificate of Occupancy and must deposit the original copy of the certificate with the court.

Besides, the director must also deposit his international travel passport with the court registrar.

Pending the perfection of the bail conditions, the former minister is to remain at Kuje Prison on remand.

In Thursday’s ruling, Justice Hassan agreed that the charges against Ngige were bailable offences and that the Constitution of the country presumes him innocent until the contrary is established.

The judge also highlighted the need for law courts not to impose outlandish, excessive, harsh and stringent bail conditions on defendants as doing so could amount to refusal of bail in the first instance.

Ngige, a former governor of Anambra State, was on December 12, 2025 arraigned before the court by the EFCC on an eight-count charge of corrupt practices.

He however pleaded not guilty to the charges.

His lawyer, Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, on  December 15, 2025, argued his bail application but it was vehemently opposed by EFCC counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, who claimed that he jumped bail when he was earlier granted bail by the anti-graft agency.

Tahir also predicated his objections to the bail on the ground that the travel documents released to Ngige to travel abroad was not returned to the EFCC, while he also refused to report to the organization until he was re-arrested.

Meanwhile, Justice Hassan has fixed January 28 and 29 for trial.

In the eight-count 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 count one, Ngige was said to have between September 2015 and May 2023, while being the supervising minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, used his position to confer an unfair advantage upon Cezimo Nigeria Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles, is his associate.

He was said to have awarded seven contracts for consultancy, training and supply in the NSITF to the said company to the tune of N366.4 million.

In count two, the former minister was alleged to have while being the supervising minister of NSITF, used his position to confer an unfair advantage upon Zitacom Nigeria Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles is his associate.

Ngige was alleged to have awarded eight contracts for supply, training and consultancy, with NSITF, to the said company to the tune of N583.6 million.

Count three accused Ngige of using his position to confer an unfair advantage upon Jeff & Xris Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Nwosu Jideofor Chukwunwike, is his associate, by the award of eight contracts for consultancy, training and supplies with NSITF to the said company to the tune of N362 million.

In count four, he was alleged to have used his position to confer an unfair advantage upon Olde English Consolidated Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Uzoma Igbonwa, is his associate.

He was accused of awarding four contracts for consultancy, training and construction by NSITF to the said company to the tune of N668.1 million.

In count five, the ex-minister was alleged to have used his position to confer unfair advantage upon Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Uzoma Igbonwa, is his associate.

Ngige was said to have awarded four contracts by NSITF to the said company for consultancy, training and supply to the tune of N161.6 million.

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

In count six, the defendant was alleged to have corruptly accepted a gift to the tune of 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”.

In count seven, Ngige was alleged to have, while being the minister between September 2015 to May 2023, corruptly accepted a gift to the tune of N55 million.

The “gift” was received 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”.

Also in count eight, the former minister was allegedly to have corruptly accepted a gift, to the tune of N26.1 million through his organisation called Senator (Dr) Chris Ngige Scholarship Scheme.

The money was received from Jeff & Xris Limited (Zenith Bank Account Number 1011533930), a contractor with NSITF, while performing his official act as Minister of Labour and Employment.

The offences 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.

Alleged N2.2bn fraud: Ngige gets bail in liberal terms after 7 days in Kuje Prison