By Hajara Abdullahi
Former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, was on Friday remanded in Kuje Prison over alleged N2.2 billion corruption charges.
Justice Maryam Hassan of a High Court in Abuja ordered the remand, pending the hearing of Ngige’s bail application, which was fixed for Monday, December 14.
Ngige pleaded not guilty to the eight-count charge against him, which borders on 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.
Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), urged the court to remand the defendant after applying for a trial date.
“In view of the not guilty plea entered by the defendant, we humbly apply for a trial date. We further pray, my Lord, that the accused person be remanded at the Kuje Prison pending the commencement of the full trial,” he said.
However, the defence lead counsel, Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), opposed the EFCC’s submission and prayed the court to grant his client bail on health grounds, noting that Ngige had already spent three days in EFCC custody before his arraignment.
“The defendant has taken his plea, and your lordship is now in full control of this trial. As I mentioned earlier, the defendant has been in the custody of the EFCC for the past three days, during which the charge was served on him. We can see that the charge was filed yesterday and assigned to this court,” Ikwueto stated.
He further urged the judge to grant his client bail, arguing that the charges against him were not comparable to terrorism or treason offences that would justify denial of bail.
The prosecution, however, countered the defence, insisting that the alleged offence was serious and should not be trivialized.
At the end of the proceedings, the court adjourned the case to December 14 and ordered Ngige’s remand in Kuje Prison.