Breaking: Court Orders Chris Ngige’s Remand in Kuje Prison

Published on December 12, 2025

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige, at the Kuje Correctional Centre following his arraignment in a N2.2 billion corruption case.

Justice Mariam Hassan issued the remand order on Friday after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought Ngige before the court on an eight-count charge of abuse of office and granting undue advantage to associates while serving as Minister of Labour under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

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The court adjourned the case to December 15 for the hearing of Ngige’s bail application.

During the proceedings, EFCC counsel Sylvanus Tahir requested the court to remand Ngige in the custody of the commission pending the bail hearing and to set a date for the commencement of trial.

Ngige’s lawyer opposed the request, stating that the former minister had already spent three days in EFCC detention. The defence emphasized that Ngige is a well-known public figure with no likelihood of absconding and pleaded for bail on health grounds, noting that he required medical attention.

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Ngige arrived at the court premises around 8:10 a.m. in the company of EFCC operatives.

According to the charge marked FCT/HC/CR/726/2025, the offences are alleged to have occurred between September 2015 and May 2023, during which Ngige reportedly used his position as supervising minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) to confer unfair advantages on companies linked to his associates.

Count one: Awarding seven contracts worth ₦366,470,920.68 to Cezimo Nigeria Limited, owned by Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles.
Count two: Awarding eight contracts worth ₦583,682,686.00 to Zitacom Nigeria Limited, also linked to Charles.
Count three: Awarding eight contracts worth ₦362,043,163.16 to Jeff & Xris Limited, associated with Nwosu Jideofor Chukwunwike.
Count four: Awarding four contracts worth ₦668,138,141.00 to Olde English Consolidated Limited, linked to Uzoma Igbonwa.

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The trial is expected to continue on December 15, when the court will decide on the bail application.

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