An FCT High Court has granted bail on liberal terms to a former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, who was arraigned on allegations of money laundering and abuse of office.
Justice Maryam Hassan, on Thursday, ordered the former governor of Anambra State to produce one surety, who must be a director in the employment of the Federal Government.
The court further ruled that the surety must own landed property in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with a valid Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) and must deposit the original copy of the certificate with the court.
In addition, while retaining Ngige’s self-recognisance, the judge directed that the surety deposit the original title document with the court.
However, Justice Hassan ordered that the former minister be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had, last Friday, arraigned Ngige on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged N2.2 billion contract fraud, abuse of office, and acceptance of gifts from contractors of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), during his tenure as supervising minister between September 2015 and May 2023.
The EFCC also alleged that the ex-minister approved the award of seven NSITF contracts for consultancy, training and supply services to a company, amounting to N366,470,920.68.
Ngige, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Earlier, defence counsel, Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), urged the court to grant his client bail on health grounds, assuring the court that the former Anambra State governor would not jump bail or interfere with the prosecution’s evidence.
In opposing the application, EFCC counsel, Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), argued against granting bail, contending that Ngige failed to return his international passport after being permitted to travel abroad for medical treatment in October, adding that the defendant later claimed the passport was lost after his re-arrest.
