A combined photo of Abubakar Malami and Chris Ngige
By Victory Oghene
The federal capital territory high court in Gwarinpa has granted bail to Chris Ngige, former minister of labour and employment.
Maryam Hassan, presiding judge, ordered that Ngige should continue on the administrative bail earlier granted to him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The court however ordered that Ngige must present a surety who is a director under the employ of the federal government.
The surety, the court added, ⁰must have a landed property and is expected to deposit documents of the landed property and travel documents with the court pending when Ngige finalises the retrieval of his own passport.
The EFCC had granted administrative bail to the defendant in October on self recognisance and one surety. He was allowed to go for medical treatment abroad on the condition that he must return his international passport upon arrival.
However, in opposing the bail application, Sylvanus Tahir, prosecution counsel, told the court that Ngige failed to submit the passport since his return to Nigeria on November 19.
Responding, Patrick Ikwueto, Ngige’s counsel, said his client had written to the commission upon his return informing them that he was robbed in London and important items, including documents, his international passport and cash, were stolen from him.
Ngige was arraigned on Friday before Hassan on an eight-count charge bordering on misuse of office, contract fraud and receiving gratification.
In the charge dated October 31, the commission alleged that the former minister used his position to confer undue advantage by awarding multiple contracts to associates and companies linked to him.
The EFCC alleged that between September 2015 and May 2023, Ngige, while serving as supervising minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund o(NSITF), approved seven contracts for consultancy, training and supply to Cezimo Nigeria Limited, valued at N366,470,920.68.
The company’s managing director, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles, is described as an associate of the former minister.
The offence, according to the anti-graft agency, violates section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The charge sheet also lists other companies that allegedly benefited from contracts approved under Ngige.
Zitacom Nigeria Limited, whose managing director (MD)/chief executive officer (CEO) is Ezebinwa, was said to have received eight contracts for supply, training and consultancy worth N583,682,686.
Jeff & Xris Limited, owned by Nwosu Jideofor Chukwunwike, allegedly secured eight contracts valued at N362,043,163.16.
Olde English Consolidated Limited, led by Uzoma Igbonwa, was listed as receiving four contracts for consultancy, training and construction totalling N668,138,141.
Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited, also linked to Igbonwa, allegedly received another four contracts worth N161,604,625.
The former Anambra governor was also alleged to have corruptly accepted a N38,650,000 gift through the Chris Nwabueze Ngige Campaign Organisation from Cezimo Nigeria Limited (Zenith Bank Account Number 1011901119), a contractor with the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).
He was also said to have received another N55,003,000 gift through his organisation called Senator (r) Chris Ngige Scholarship Scheme from Zitacom Nigeria Limited (Zenith Bank Account Number 1017263219), a contractor with the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).
Upon arraignment, Ngige pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
Another court in Abuja rejected the bail application of Abubakar Malami, former attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice.
Malami had sought bail from the EFCC.
In a ruling on Thursday, Babangida Hassan, the presiding judge, said Malami’s detention was lawful and backed by a valid court order.
Malami, a senior advocate of Nigeria, had approached the court through his counsel, Sulaiman Hassan, arguing that his continued detention by the EFCC in the course of an ongoing investigation was illegal and violated his constitutional right to personal liberty.
The EFCC, however, countered the application, insisting that Malami was being held pursuant to a remand order lawfully obtained from another FCT high court.
J.S. Okutepa, counsel to the EFCC, told the court that the order was issued by S.C. Oriji in accordance with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
Okutepa said the commission had acted within the bounds of the law and would not detain any suspect beyond the period authorised by the court.
In his decision, the judge agreed with the EFCC’s position, noting that both the constitution and the ACJA recognise detention based on a valid remand order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction.
The judge ruled that the application before him was procedurally flawed, as it effectively invited the court to review or overturn an order made by another court of equal standing.
“Granting this application would amount to this court sitting as an appellate court over the decision of a court of coordinate jurisdiction,” Hassan held, adding that such a step was outside the powers of the court.
Malami is being probed for 18 alleged offences, including money laundering, abuse of office, and terrorism financing.
