A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has ordered former Anambra State Governor and ex-Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, to be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre until his bail hearing on Monday.
Ngige was arraigned on Friday on an eight-count charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The former minister pleaded not guilty to allegations bordering on abuse of office, including awarding contracts that allegedly conferred undue advantage on associates during his time in office between 2015 and 2023. He is also accused of receiving financial gifts running into tens of millions of naira through his personal and affiliated organisations.
His bail application could not be heard immediately because the EFCC said it had only just received the filing shortly before the court session began.
Ngige’s counsel, Patrick Ikweato (SAN), urged the court to grant temporary bail on health grounds, but EFCC prosecutor Sylvanus Tahir (SAN) objected, insisting the former minister might flee the country if released.
Justice Mariam Hassan rejected the request for interim bail and adjourned the matter to Monday, December 15, for a formal bail hearing.
