By OY KAKA

An Abuja High Court on Thursday adopted the previous bail conditions set by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, charged with N2.2 billion fraud.

Delivering a ruling, Justice Maryam Hassan, said the conditions include the provision of a surety who must be a director with the Federal government, owns a landed property in Abuja municipal and an international passport, which must be submitted to the court’s registry alongside the certificate of occupancy of the property.

Hassan also ordered that Ngige must submit his international passport after getting a new one.

She said the bail conditions must not be unreasonable, as setting a stringent condition is as “good as not receiving bail.”

Thereafter, EFCC’s lawyer, Eunice Daylo, requested two consecutive dates for the commencement of the trial.

Hassan however, adjourned the case until Jan.28 and 29, 2026.

Earlier, the EFCC arraigned Ngige on eight charges of fraud and accepting gifts, on Dec.12.

According to the commission, the defendant committed the alleged offence while serving as the Minister of Labour and Employment during former President Buhari’s administration.

Ngige, who served as former governor of Anambra State and Senator, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

This prompted his remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing and ruling of his bail application on the said date.

On Dec.15, the court heard the argument for his bail application through his lawyer, Patrick Ikwueto, (SAN),who pleaded with the court to consider the age and health of Ngige.

Similarly Mr Ikwueto argued that the defendant had no prior criminal record and was unlikely to commit the offence again.

In response the EFCC, through its lawyer, Sylvanus Tahir SAN, opposed the bail on the basis that Ngige flouted the terms of the administrative bail the agency earlier granted him, thus making him a flight risk.

The judge, after hearing their submissions, reserved the ruling for bail till Thursday (today).

The EFCC alleged Ngige of awarding contracts to his associates and also accepting monetary gifts from some of them through his organization, ‘Dr Chris Nwabueze Ngige Campaign Organisation.’

According to the charges, Ngige awarded seven contracts worth over N366 million “for consultancy, training and supply by the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF)” to a company, Cezimo Nigeria Limited, belonging to his associate, Ezebinwa Charles.

The EFCC further alleged that he awarded eight contracts worth over N583 million to another company belonging to Mr Charles.

It added that the defendant used his position to give preferential treatment, awarding eight contracts worth over N362 million to a company, Jeff & Xris Limited, belonging to Nwosu Chukwunwike.

Other companies he allegedly awarded contracts under controversial circumstances include Olde English Consolidated Limited and Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited, belonging to Uzoma Igbonwa, to the sum of N668 million and N161 million, respectively.

The EFCC also alleged that Ngige collected gratifications from contractors of the NSITF through his organization.

It added that Ngige allegedly collected N38.6 million from Cezimo Nigeria Limited, N55 million from Zitacom Nigeria Limited and N26 million from Jeff & Xris Limited.

According to the EFCC, these offences violates Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

The offences, violates Section 17(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and are punishable under Section 17(c) of the same Act.(NAN)

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