A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, on Monday adjourned until December 18 the ruling on the bail application filed by Chris Ngige, former Minister of Labour and Employment.
Ngige is standing trial over an eight-count corruption charge instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Trial Justice Maryam Hassan postponed the decision after listening to submissions from both the prosecution and the defence.
Pending the court’s ruling, Ngige will remain in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
The former minister, who served between November 11, 2015, and May 29, 2023, pleaded not guilty to allegations bordering on contract fraud amounting to over N2.2 billion.
The charges include abuse of office and the alleged receipt of kickbacks from companies awarded contracts by the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).
The EFCC alleges that Ngige exploited his office to confer undue advantage on firms linked to his associates.
The anti-graft agency, represented by Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, opposed the bail application, arguing that Ngige breached the conditions of an earlier administrative bail and failed to return his international passport after travelling abroad for medical treatment.
Tahir further submitted that the gravity of the offences carries a possible minimum jail term of five years upon conviction.
Responding, Ngige’s counsel, Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, urged the court to admit his client to bail on health grounds, assuring the court that the former minister would neither abscond nor interfere with witnesses.
Ikwueto also pointed out that Ngige had already spent three days in EFCC custody before his arraignment and maintained that the offences charged were bailable.
“The trial will examine how the contracts were awarded,” Ikwueto said. “These are not charges of terrorism or treason. He is a known public figure, and the court can set any condition for bail.”
According to the EFCC, Ngige allegedly approved several NSITF contracts in favour of companies linked to his associates, including Cezimo Nigeria Limited, Zitacom Nigeria Limited, Jeff & Xris Limited, Olde English Consolidated Limited, and Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited, with the total contract sums exceeding N2.2 billion.
The prosecution further alleged that he received financial benefits from the firms under the guise of campaign and scholarship donations.
The offences are said to contravene sections 17(a) and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The court is expected to deliver its ruling on the bail application on December 18.