Dr. Chris Ngige, former Minister of Labour and Employment, has been ordered to remain in Kuje Correctional Centre after pleading not guilty to eight counts of alleged contract fraud and abuse of office. The ruling was delivered on Friday by Justice Mariam Hassan of the Federal Capital Territory High Court following his arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The anti-corruption agency accused Ngige of misusing his position while serving as supervising minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) between September 2015 and May 2023. The EFCC alleges that he awarded multiple contracts worth billions of naira to companies owned by his associates.
According to the charges, Ngige approved seven contracts for consultancy, training and supply to Cezimo Nigeria Limited valued at N366 million. Other companies allegedly benefiting include Zitacom Nigeria Limited (eight contracts worth N583 million), Jeff & Xris Limited (eight contracts valued at N362 million), and Olde English Consolidated Limited (four contracts totaling N668 million).
Beyond contract awards, the EFCC claims Ngige collected N38.6 million from Cezimo Nigeria Limited, N55 million from Zitacom Nigeria Limited, and N26 million from Jeff & Xris Limited through his organizations, including the Senator Chris Nwabueze Ngige Campaign Organisation and the Chris Ngige Scholarship Scheme.
After entering his not guilty plea, EFCC’s counsel Sylvanus Tahir, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the former minister. Ngige’s defense counsel, Patrick Ikwueto, also a SAN, argued for bail on health grounds, emphasizing that his client had already spent three days in EFCC custody and required medical attention.
Justice Hassan sided with the prosecution and ordered Ngige’s remand at Kuje Correctional Centre. The hearing for his bail application has been scheduled for Monday, December 15, 2025.
Ngige, who also served as governor of Anambra State from 2003 to 2006, held the labour ministry portfolio throughout former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration from 2015 to 2023.
