A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting at Gwarinpa, Abuja, on Monday deferred ruling till Thursday on the bail application filed by a former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, who is standing trial over an alleged ₦2.2bn contract fraud.
Trial Justice Maryam Hassan adjourned for ruling after listening to arguments from counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the defence.
Naijaonpoint reports that Ngige, who served as minister between November 11, 2015 and May 29, 2023, was arraigned last Friday on an eight-count charge bordering on abuse of office and contract fraud allegedly committed while overseeing activities linked to the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge, following which the court ordered that he be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, pending the determination of his bail application.
Part of the allegations against him is that he accepted kickbacks from firms that were awarded NSITF contracts and used his office to confer unfair advantages on associates by influencing contract awards.
The offences are said to be punishable under various provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Opposing the bail request, the EFCC, through its team of lawyers led by Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, urged the court to decline the application.
The prosecution alleged that Ngige breached an earlier administrative bail granted to him by the Commission, accusing him of failing to return his international passport after travelling abroad in October for medical treatment.
The EFCC also drew the court’s attention to the weight of the charge, noting that it attracts a minimum sentence of five years imprisonment upon conviction.
In response, defence counsel, Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, pleaded with the court to grant his client bail pending the hearing and determination of the case.
He lamented that Ngige had already spent three days in EFCC custody before being brought to 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,” Ikwueto said.
He added, “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.”
The defence lawyer also told the court that the former minister was not in good health, arguing that the correctional facility lacked the medical capacity to attend to his condition.
Ikwueto further contended that the allegations against his client were not capital offences and were therefore bailable.
“It is not like they are alleging that he ate the ministry’s money or that of NSITF. The trial will start, and we will see how those contracts were awarded. It is not a terrorism charge or treasonable offence,” he insisted.
Details Of the Alleged Contracts
According to the charge, the EFCC alleged that Ngige used his position to confer unfair advantage on Cezimo Nigeria Limited, a company linked to his associate, by approving seven NSITF consultancy, training and supply contracts valued at ₦366,470,920.68, contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The Commission further alleged that between September 2015 and May 2023, Ngige awarded eight NSITF contracts worth ₦583,682,686 to Zitacom Nigeria Limited, whose Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles, was described as his associate.
Another eight NSITF contracts valued at ₦362,043,163.16 were allegedly awarded to Jeff & Xris Limited, a firm linked to another associate, Nwosu Chukwunwike.
In count four, Ngige was accused of influencing four contracts worth ₦668,138,141 in favour of Olde English Consolidated Limited, belonging to an associate identified as Uzoma Igbonwa. He was also alleged to have approved another four contracts valued at ₦161,604,625 for the same associate through Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited.
Alleged Kickbacks
The EFCC further alleged that between May and June 2022, the former minister “corruptly” received monetary gifts from NSITF contractors.
It claimed that he received ₦38,650,000 from Cezimo Nigeria Limited through his campaign organisation, ₦55,003,000 from Zitacom Nigeria Limited via his scholarship scheme, and ₦26,130,000 from Jeff & Xris Limited.
The alleged offences are said to be contrary to Sections 17(a) and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The court adjourned the matter till Thursday for ruling on the bail application.