Former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has been charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of a N2.2 billion contract fraud linked to his tenure supervising the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF). The arraignment occurred on Friday at an Abuja High Court in Gwarinpa.

Justice Maryam Hassan ordered that Ngige be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre until his bail hearing, which is scheduled for Monday, December 14. Ngige, who served as the supervising minister of NSITF from September 2015 to May 2023, pleaded not guilty to eight counts of abuse of office and receiving gifts from contractors.

Following his plea, EFCC counsel Sylvanus Tahir (SAN) requested an immediate trial date and asked the court to keep the former minister in prison custody. However, Ngige’s lead counsel, Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), opposed the request for remand, urging the court to grant his client bail on health grounds. He emphasized that Ngige had already spent three days in EFCC custody before the arraignment and argued that Kuje prison lacks the necessary facilities to address his health needs.

Ikwueto also noted that the defense was not given sufficient time to file a counter-affidavit before the EFCC applied for remand, insisting that the allegations should not be exaggerated. In response, the EFCC maintained that the charges were serious and should not be taken lightly.

With both sides presenting strong arguments, all eyes are now on the court’s decision as the bail hearing approaches on Monday. The case is expected to attract significant public interest due to Ngige’s high-profile status and the scale of the alleged fraud.