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A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), located at Gwarimpa in Abuja, denied an oral bail application made by former Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige, and ordered his detention at Kuje prison until December 15.
His formal bail application, prepared by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Patrick Ikwueto, could not be presented in court as it was not yet ready for hearing.
Ngige, a former governor of Anambra State, was brought before the court on Friday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), facing an eight-count charge of corrupt practices.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges. His lawyer, Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, made strong attempts to present the written bail application, but was firmly opposed by EFCC counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, who claimed he had just received the application and required time to respond formally.
An effort by Ikwueto to present the oral application was rejected by Justice Maryam Aliyu Hassan.
The judge, while denying the oral application, scheduled the formal application to be argued on Monday, December 15. Justice Maryam ordered Ngige to be held at Kuje prison until that date.
In the eight-count charge, marked “FCT/HC/CR/726/2025,” the former minister was the only defendant.
According to the charge dated October 31 and filed on December 9 by Sylvanus Tahir, Ngige was accused of committing the offences while serving as Minister of Labour under the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
In count one, Ngige was alleged to have, between September 2015 and May 2023, while serving as the supervising Minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), used his position to grant an unfair advantage to Cezimo Nigeria Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and principal, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles, is his associate.
He was accused of awarding seven contracts for consultancy, training, and supply by the NSITF to the said company, amounting to N366,470,920.68 (Three hundred and sixty-six million, four hundred and seventy thousand, nine hundred and twenty naira and sixty-eight kobo).
In count two, the former minister allegedly conferred an unfair advantage upon Zitacom Nigeria Limited, another company whose MD/CEO and principal, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles, is his associate, by awarding eight contracts for supply, training, and consultancy with NSITF, totaling N583,682,686.00 (Five hundred and eighty-three million, six hundred and eighty-two thousand, six hundred and eighty-six naira).
Count three accused Ngige of using his position to grant an unfair advantage to Jeff & Xris Limited, whose MD and CEO, Nwosu Jideofor Chukwunwike, is his associate, by awarding eight contracts for consultancy, training, and supplies with NSITF, amounting to N362,043,163.16 (Three hundred and sixty-two million, forty-three thousand, one hundred and sixty-three naira and sixteen kobo).
In count four, he was allegedly accused of conferring an unfair advantage upon Olde English Consolidated Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and principal, Uzoma Igbonwa, is his associate, by awarding four contracts for consultancy, training, and construction by NSITF, totaling N668,138,141.00 (Six hundred and sixty-eight million, one hundred and thirty-eight thousand, one hundred and forty-one naira).
In count five, the ex-minister was accused of using his position to grant unfair advantage to Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited, whose MD and CEO, Uzoma Igbonwa, is also his associate, by awarding four contracts by NSITF for consultancy, training, and supply, amounting to N161,604,625.00 (One hundred and sixty-one million, six hundred and four thousand, six hundred and twenty-five naira).
The offences were 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 of N38,650,000 (Thirty-eight million, six hundred and fifty thousand naira) through his organization, the Senator (Dr) Chris Nwabueze Ngige Campaign Organisation, from Cezimo Nigeria Limited (Zenith Bank Account Number 1011901119), a contractor with NSITF, while performing his official duties as Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment.
In count seven, Ngige was accused of corruptly accepting a gift of N55,003,000 (Fifty-five million, three thousand naira) while serving as minister between September 2015 and May 2023. This “gift” was received through his organization called the Senator (Dr) Chris Ngige Scholarship Scheme from Zitacom Nigeria Limited (Zenith Bank Account Number 1017263219), a contractor with NSITF, while performing his official duties as Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment.
Additionally, in count eight, the former minister was alleged to have corruptly accepted a gift of N26,130,000 (Twenty-six million, one hundred and thirty thousand naira) through his organization, the Senator (Dr) Chris Ngige Scholarship Scheme, received from Jeff & Xris Limited (Zenith Bank Account Number 1011533930), a contractor with NSITF, while performing his official duties as Minister of Labour and Employment.
The offences were 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.
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What are the charges against Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige?
Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige faces an eight-count charge of corrupt practices, including allegations of using his position as Minister of Labour to confer unfair advantages
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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