N2.2bn fraud: ex-Anambra gov, Ngige gets bail on self recognisance

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has finally admitted former Minister of Labour, Chris Nwabueze Ngige to bail pending  the trial of charges against him.

Justice Maryam Hassan in ruling yesterday, adopted the administrative bail earlier granted the former governor of Anambra state by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on his self recognizance as part of the bail conditions.

Justice Hassan further ordered Ngige to produce a surety ,who must be a director in the federal government employment.

The Director must have landed property in the FCT with Certificate of Occupancy and must deposit the original copy of the Certificate with the court.

Besides, the Director must deposit his International travel passport with the court registrar.

Pending the perfection of the bail conditions, the former Minister is to remain at Kuje prison on remand.

The judge agreed that the charges against Ngige were bailable offences and that the 1999 constitution presumes him innocent until contrary is established.

The Judge also highlights the need for law courts not to impose outlandish, excessive, harsh and stringent bail conditions on defendants as doing so could amount to refusal of bail in the first instance.

Ngige, a former governor of Anambra state was on December 12 arraigned before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC on 8-count charge of corrupt practices.

He however pleaded not guilty to the charges.

His counsel,  Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), had on  December 15,  argued his bail application but was vehemently opposed by EFCC counsel, Sylvanus Tahir SAN who claimed that he had jumped the earlier one granted him by the anti-graft agency

Tahir also predicated his objections to the bail on the ground that the travelling documents released to Ngige  to travel abroad was not returned to EFCC while he also refused to report to the organization until he was re-arrested.

Meanwhile, Justice Hassan has fixed January 28 and 29 for trial of the charges.

In the eight-count charge, marked: FCT/HC/CR/726/2025, the former minister was the sole defendant.

In the charge dated October 31 and filed on December 9 by Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, Ngige was accused of committing the offences while serving as Minister of Labour under the late President Muhammadu Buhari.

In count one, Ngige was said to have between September 2015 and May 2023, while being the supervising Minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), used his position to confer an unfair advantage upon Cezimo Nigeria Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles, is his associate.

He was said to have awarded seven contracts for consultancy, training and supply by the NSITF to the said company to the tune of 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 was alleged to have while being the supervising Minister of NSITF, used his position to confer an unfair advantage upon Zitacom Nigeria Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles is his associate.

Ngige was alleged to have awarded eight contracts for supply, training and consultancy, with NSITF, to the said company to the tune of N583,682,686.00 (Five Hundred and Eighty Three Million, Six Hundred and Eighty Two Thousand, Six Hundred and Eighty Six Naira) only.

Count three accused Ngige of using his position to confer an unfair advantage upon Jeff & Xris Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Nwosu Jideofor Chukwunwike, is his associate, by the award of eight contracts for consultancy, training and supplies with NSITF to the said company to the tune of N362,043,163.16 (Three Hundred and Sixty Two Million, Forty Three Thousand, One Hundred and Sixty Three Naira and Sixteen Kobo) only.

In count four, he was allegedly to have used his position to confer an unfair advantage upon Olde English Consolidated Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Uzoma Igbonwa, is his associate.

He was accused of awarding four contracts for consultancy, training and construction by NSITF to the said company to the tune of N668,138,141.00 (Six Hundred and Sixty Eight Million, One Hundred and Thirty Eight Thousand, One Hundred and Forty One Naira) only.

In count five, the ex-minister was alleged to have used his position to confer unfair advantage upon Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Uzoma Igbonwa, is his associate.

Ngige was said to have awarded four contracts by NSITF to the said company for consultancy, training and supply to the tune of N161,604,625.00 (One Hundred and Sixty One Million, Six Hundred and Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Twenty Five Naira) only.

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 to the tune of N38, 650,000 (Thirty Eight Million, Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) only, through his “organisation called Senator (Dr) Chris Nwabueze Ngige Campaign Organisation from Cezimo Nigeria Limited (Zenith Bank Account Number 1011901119), a contractor with NSITF, while performing your official act as Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment.”

In count seven, Ngige was alleged to have, while being the minister between September 2015 to May 2023, did corruptly accept a gift, to the tune of N55,003,000 (Fifty Five Million, Three Thousand Naira) only.

The “gift” was received through his organisation called “Senator (Dr) Chris Ngige Scholarship Scheme from Zitacom Nigeria Limited (Zenith Bank Account Number 1017263219), a contractor NSITF, while performing your official act as Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment.”

Also in count eight, the former minister was allegedly to have corruptly accepted a gift, to the tune of N26,130,000 (Twenty Six Million, One Hundred and Thirty Thousand Naira) only, through his organisation called Senator (Dr) Chris Ngige Scholarship Scheme.

The money was received from Jeff & Xris Limited (Zenith Bank Account Number 1011533930), a contractor with NSITF, while performing his official act 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.