EX GOVERNOR OF ANAMBRA CHRIS NGIGE RETURNS TO KUJE CORRECTIONAL CENTER

Read Time:4 Minute, 12 Second

HOTJIST NEWS

A High Court in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, located in Gwarinpa, has postponed its decision until Thursday. The court is considering an application by the former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, who is seeking release on bail while the case against him is being decided. The case involves eight corruption charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Trial Justice Maryam Hassan postponed the decision to decide on the case after she heard the arguments from both the defense lawyer and the prosecution lawyer.

Ngige, who served as a minister from November 11, 2015, to May 29, 2023, appeared in court recently accused of being involved in a contract fraud case involving more than N2.2 billion.

After he was brought before the court last Friday, he denied the charges.
However, the judge decided to keep him in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja until his bail request is decided.

The case against him includes accusations of misusing his position and taking bribes from companies that won contracts from the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF.

It is claimed that he used his role to give unfair benefits to his friends by giving them contracts for their businesses.

His actions are said to violate several sections of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

The anti–graft agency, through its lawyers led by Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, asked the court not to grant him bail.

The prosecution argued that the former minister broke an earlier bail agreement by not returning his passport after he was allowed to go abroad in October for a medical checkup.

The EFCC further drew the attention of the court to the weight of the charge which it said would attract nothing less than five years prison term if the defendant is convicted.

However, the defence lawyer, Mr. Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, prayed the court to release his client on bail pending the hearing and determination of the case against him.

Ikwueto, SAN, lamented that the defendant had already spent three days in the custody of the EFCC before he was produced before the court for arraignment.

“The issue of whether he will be granted bail or not is a right in our Constitution. The defendant is not an unknown person in this country.

“I don’t think there is anybody in this country who will say they don’t know the defendant. Even from the charge, it was stated that he was a minister of this country.

“I urge your lordship to grant the defendant bail, and we are ready to fulfil any requirement your lordship will put as a condition for his bail,” Ikwueto, SAN, begged.

He told the court that the defendant was not in good health and said the prison didn’t have the right facilities to look after his medical needs.

Additionally, the defense lawyer said the charge wasn’t serious enough to result in the death penalty if the defendant was found guilty, and explained that all the accusations against his client were considered bailable offenses.

“It is not like they are alleging that he ate the ministry’s money or that of NSTIF. The trial will start, and we will see how those contracts were awarded. It is not a terrorism charge or treasonable offence,” Ikwueto, SAN, insisted.

EFCC had in the charge before the court, alleged that the former minister used his position to confer an unfair advantage on a firm- Cezimo Nigeria Limited- which was linked to his associate, by approving seven NSITF consultancy, training and supply contracts worth N366,470,920.68, an offence punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

It is alleged that between September 2015 to May 2023, the defendant also awarded eight NSITF contracts worth N583,682,686, to Zitacom Nigeria Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles, is his associate.

The EFCC also alleged that eight NSITF contracts valued at N362,043,163.16 were awarded to Jeff & Xris Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Nwosu Chukwunwike, is the ex-minister’s associate.

Whereas he was in count four, accused of influencing four contracts worth N668,138,141 in favour of Olde English Consolidated Limited, belonging to his associate identified as Uzoma Igbonwa, EFCC alleged that Ngige also gave another four contracts valued at N161,604,625, to the same person, through another company- Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited.

Aside from allegations that he had between May and June 2022, “corruptly” received monetary gifts from NSITF contractors, the prosecution told the court that he received N38,650,000 from a firm- Cezimo Nigeria Limited- using his campaign organisation, another N55,003,000 from Zitacom Nigeria Limited through his scholarship scheme, as well ad N26,130,000 from Jeff & Xris Limited.

The offences were said to be contrary to sections 17(a) and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.