The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission charged former Labour and Employment Minister Chris Ngige with N2.2 billion contract fraud on Friday before an Abuja High Court in Gwarinpa.
The former minister was placed under remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre by Justice Maryam Hassan until his bail plea was heard on Monday, December 14.
Chris Ngige pleaded not guilty to eight that involved accepting gifts from contractors and abusing his position. of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund while he served as its supervising minister between September 2015 and May 2023.
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Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), the EFCC’s attorney, requested a trial date and asked the court to remand the defendant following the plea.
He said, “In view of the not guilty plea entered by the defendant, we humbly apply for the trial date. We further pray my Lord that the accused person be remanded at the Kuje prison pending the commencement of the full trial.”
However, Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), the lead defence attorney, disagreed with the EFCC’s argument and asked the court to grant his client bail on health grounds, pointing out that the former minister had been detained by the EFCC for three days before the arraignment.
“The defendant has entered his plea, and your lordship now has complete control over this trial,” he declared. As I previously stated, the defendant has been detained by the EFCC for the last three days, during which time he was served with the accusation. The charge was filed yesterday and assigned to this court, as we can see.
He contended that the accusations did not resemble charges of treason or terrorism that would support a denial of bail.
“It’s not like he ate the ministry’s money or that of NSTIF. The trial will start, and we will see how those contracts were awarded. It’s not a terrorism charge or treason offence,” Ikwueto stated.
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He also challenged the EFCC’s application, saying the defence was not given time to respond.
“We were not allowed time to file our own counter-affidavit. If the prosecution will give us time, we will.”
However, the prosecution refuted him, pointing out that the defendant’s alleged offence was serious and shouldn’t be minimised by the defence.
He informed the court that after being allowed to leave for medical care in October, Chris Ngige neglected to return his international passport.
The court ordered Chris Ngige’s remand in Kuje and postponed the case until December 14.
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