•••Adjourns Case to December 15
By Kamsi Anayo, Awka
A former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige under the administration of late President Mohammed Buhari , was on Friday arraigned before an Abuja High Court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over alleged N2.2bn contract fraud.
The former Minister of Labour and Productivity was remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre as he awaits the hearing of his bail application.
Justice Mariam Hassan of the Federal Capital Territory High Court,l adjourned the case to Monday, December 15, for the bail hearing.
Ngige, who also served as the governor of Anambra State, was arraigned on an eight-count charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Ngige pleaded not guilty to eight counts bordering on abuse of office and acceptance of gifts from contractors of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund while he served as its supervising minister between September 2015 and May 2023.
During the proceedings, EFCC counsel Sylvanus Tahir requested that Ngige be remanded in custody pending the trial, while the defence highlighted that he had already spent three days in EFCC custody, emphasizing his public profile and ongoing health concerns.
The charges, filed in December and covering alleged offences committed during his tenure as Labour Minister, involve awarding contracts to companies linked to associates.
Counts one to four allege that Ngige used his position to give undue advantage to Cezimo Nigeria Limited, Zitacom Nigeria Limited, Jeff & Xris Limited, and Olde English Consolidated Limited, awarding contracts for consultancy, training, supply, and construction totaling over ₦1.9 billion.
