Former minister Chris Ngige faces Kuje remand after an Abuja court ordered his detention over EFCC charges alleging contract fraud, bribery and unlawful enrichment.
The legal battle confronting former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, took a dramatic turn on Friday when an Abuja High Court in Gwarinpa issued a decisive Kuje remand order against him.
The directive came after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought an eight-count charge accusing the former minister of masterminding extensive contract fraud, receiving unlawful gratifications and abusing his office during his tenure overseeing operations at the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).
Justice Maryam Hassan, who presided over the proceeding, ruled that the former minister should stay at the Kuje Correctional Centre until the hearing of his bail application scheduled for Monday.
Ngige, a former governor of Anambra State from 2003 to 2006 and labour minister from 2015 to 2023, entered the courtroom under heavy security following his arrest two days earlier at his Abuja residence.
According to EFCC investigators, the arrest followed months of inquiries into alleged financial irregularities involving procurement, consultancy contracts and cash transfers linked to companies owned by his long-term associates.
His arraignment on Friday marked the first formal step in what appears to be a high-profile corruption trial.
Although the defendant pleaded not guilty to all eight charges, the prosecution insisted that the allegations were weighty enough to warrant immediate detention.
EFCC counsel, Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), urged the court not to release the former minister until the defence presented a full bail application that could be examined on its merits.
He warned that granting oral bail would undermine procedure, particularly because the defendant had reportedly not submitted his passport as required under earlier administrative bail conditions.
Justice Hassan agreed with the prosecution’s position, emphasising that proper legal process must be followed.
Her ruling resulted in a second firm Kuje remand order, a decision that visibly unsettled some supporters of the former minister in the courtroom.
She maintained that detention was necessary until arguments for and against bail could be heard comprehensively on the next adjourned date.
According to the charge sheet filed by the EFCC, Ngige approved seven contracts worth over N366 million for Cezimo Nigeria Limited, a company owned by Ezebinwa Charles, one of his close associates.
The prosecution alleges that these contracts—covering consultancy services, training programmes and supply arrangements—violated procurement processes and were awarded with the intent to confer undue advantage.
In a separate set of transactions, the former minister was also accused of awarding eight additional contracts worth N583 million to another company linked to the same associate.
Further allegations detailed by prosecutors indicate that Ngige extended similar preferential treatment to Jeff & Xris Limited, owned by Nwosu Chukwunwike.
The EFCC claims the company received eight contracts amounting to N362 million through the influence of the former minister.
Two more firms—Olde English Consolidated Limited and Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited—were reportedly awarded contracts worth N668 million and N161 million respectively.
The EFCC insists these actions breached Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, which forbids public officials from awarding contracts that give unfair advantage to allies.
Beyond contract awards, the anti-graft agency also accused Ngige of receiving substantial financial gifts channelled through his political organisation, Dr Chris Nwabueze Ngige Campaign Organisation.
Investigators traced transfers from companies that benefitted from NSITF contracts, including N38.6 million from Cezimo Nigeria Limited, N55 million from Zitacom Nigeria Limited and N26 million from Jeff & Xris Limited.
These alleged gratifications, according to the EFCC, contravene Section 17(a) of the anti-corruption law and carry penalties under Section 17(c).
During the proceeding, Ngige’s lawyer, Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), informed the court that the defence was notified of the arraignment only on Thursday and therefore had inadequate time to prepare a formal bail application.
He appealed to the court to consider an urgent, temporary bail, citing the former minister’s health and long-standing public service.
However, the EFCC countered that oral applications were improper and stressed that the defendant had not met earlier bail conditions, particularly the submission of his passport.
The defence argued that the passport had been stolen and that a letter had been sent to the EFCC notifying the agency—an assertion the prosecution claimed not to have received.
After reviewing the submissions, Justice Hassan delivered yet another firm Kuje remand decision, reinforcing her stance that due process must be respected.
She adjourned the hearing to Monday, when arguments on the bail application will be entertained.
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