Di Federal Capital Territory High Court don grant bail to di former Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige who bin don dey remanded for Kuje prison since 12 December, 2025.

Ngige dey face eight-count charges of contract fraud and abuse of office wey di Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) bin sama am.

Justice Maryam Aliyu Hassan grant Ngige bail dis Thursday on di same terms wey di EFCC bin grant am administrative bail bifor dem later arrest am again.

Di EFCC bin don grant di former Labour Minister bail on self recognition wen dem first invite am for investigation for September dis year, but dem later revoke di bail sake of accuse say Ngige bin travel out of di kontri for medical treatment, but wen e come back e refuse to return im international passport to dia office until dem arrest am on 10 December, 2025.

Sylvanus Tahir (SAN) wey be di lawyer for di EFCC bin don ask di court not to grant Ngige bail sake of say e disobey im initial bail condition and e still be flight risk, but Ngige lawyer, Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), tell di court say im client bin write to di EFCC to notify dem say robbers bin attack am wen e travel abroad and tiff some important documents, including im passports.

For her ruling dis Thursday, Justice Hassan say she go grant di defendant bail on di same condition of di initial administrative bail wey di EFCC bin grant am.

However, di trial judge say Ngige must provide one surety who must to dey for di rank of director for di federal civil service. Di surety must also get landed property ifor di FCT and e must tender di original certificate of occupancy (CofO) of di land bifor di court.

Di surety must also submit im international travel documents to di court sake of say Ngige own passport neva dey available afta e say dem tiff am. Di court go return di surety passport afta Ngige don get back new passport and submit am to di court.

Justice Hassan den adjourn di mata to 28 and 29 January, 2026, for continuation.

Charges against Ngige

Di EFCC claim say between September 2015 and May 2023 wen Ngige be Minister for Labour and also dey oversee di Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), im bin approve seven contracts for consultancy, training and supply for one company wey dia name na Cezimo Nigeria Limited.

Di contracts value pass N366 million, and according to di EFCC, di managing director, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles, na associate of di former minister, and dis na offence against section 19 of di Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

For anoda count, EFCC claim say Ngige also award contracts wey value pass N583 million for one Zitacom Nigeria Limited, wey di oga for dia na di same Ezebinwa Charles.

Anoda company - Jeff & Xris Limited – also get contract wey di value na about N362 million. Di owner of dis company na Nwosu Jideofor Chukwunwike, according to EFCC.

Also, Olde English Consolidated Limited, wey di owner na one Uzoma Igbonwa get four contracts wey di total moni na ova N668 million; while Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited, way also get link to Igbonwa, receive another four contracts for more dan N161 million total.

Di EFCC also accuse Ngige say e corruptly collect gift of money - N38 million - through im organisation, 'Senator (Dr) Chris Nwabueze Ngige Campaign Organisation'.

Dis gift na from Cezimo Nigeria Limited wey be company wey don carry out contract for di NSITF.

Den Ngige also collect anoda gift of N55 million from anoda contractor Zitacom Nigeria Limited, through anoda of im organisation wey di name na 'Senator (r) Chris Ngige Scholarship Scheme'.

Di fomer Minister plead not guilty to all dis charges.