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A federal capital territory high court in Gwarinpa has
granted bail to Chris Ngige, former minister of labour and employment.
Maryam Hassan, presiding judge, ordered that Ngige should
continue on the administrative bail earlier granted to him by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission.
The court however ordered that Ngige must present a surety
who is a director under the employ of the federal government.
The surety, the court added, must have a landed property and
is expected to deposit documents of the landed property and travel documents
with the court pending when Ngige finalises the retrieval of his own passport.
The EFCC had granted administrative bail to the defendant in
October on self recognisance and one surety. He was allowed to go for medical
treatment abroad on the condition that he must return his international
passport upon arrival.
However, in opposing the bail application, Sylvanus Tahir,
prosecution counsel, told the court that Ngige failed to submit the passport
since his return to Nigeria on November 19.
Responding, Patrick Ikwueto, Ngige’s counsel, said his
client had written to the commission upon his return informing them that he was
robbed in London and important items, including documents, his international
passport and cash, were stolen from him.
BACKGROUND
Ngige was arraigned on Friday before Hassan on an
eight-count charge bordering on misuse of office, contract fraud and receiving
gratification.
In the charge dated October 31, the commission alleged that
the former minister used his position to confer undue advantage by awarding
multiple contracts to associates and companies linked to him.
The EFCC alleged that between September 2015 and May 2023,
Ngige, while serving as supervising minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance
Trust Fund (NSITF), approved seven contracts for consultancy, training and
supply to Cezimo Nigeria Limited, valued at N366,470,920.68.
The company’s managing director, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu
Charles, is described as an associate of the former minister.
The offence, according to the anti-graft agency, violates
section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The charge sheet also lists other companies that allegedly
benefited from contracts approved under Ngige.
Zitacom Nigeria Limited, whose managing director (MD)/chief
executive officer (CEO) is Ezebinwa, was said to have received eight contracts
for supply, training and consultancy worth N583,682,686.
Jeff & Xris Limited, owned by Nwosu Jideofor
Chukwunwike, allegedly secured eight contracts valued at N362,043,163.16.
Olde English Consolidated Limited, led by Uzoma Igbonwa, was
listed as receiving four contracts for consultancy, training and construction
totalling N668,138,141.
Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited, also
linked to Igbonwa, allegedly received another four contracts worth
N161,604,625.
The former Anambra governor was also alleged to have
corruptly accepted a N38,650,000 gift through the Chris Nwabueze Ngige Campaign
Organisation from Cezimo Nigeria Limited (Zenith Bank Account Number
1011901119), a contractor with the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).
He was also said to have received another N55,003,000 gift
through his organisation called Senator (r) Chris Ngige Scholarship Scheme from
Zitacom Nigeria Limited (Zenith Bank Account Number 1017263219), a contractor
with the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).
Upon arraignment, Ngige pleaded not guilty to all the
counts.
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