A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has remanded the erstwhile minister for Labour and Productivity, Senator Chris Ngige, to Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his bail application, fixed for Monday, December 14.
Senator Ngige was arraigned last Friday before Justice Maryam Hassan of the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged N2.2bn contract fraud.
He pleaded not guilty to eight counts bordering on abuse of office and acceptance of gifts from contractors of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund. At the same time, he served as its supervising minister between September 2015 and May 2023.
EFCC counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, applied for a trial date and asked the court to remand the defendant.
“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,” the learned senior counsel prayed the court.
However, defence lead counsel, Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, opposed the EFCC’s submission and urged the court to grant his client bail on health grounds, noting that the former minister had been in EFCC custody for three days before the 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 the charge was filed yesterday and assigned to this court.
“The issue of whether he will be granted bail or not is a right in our Constitution. The defendant is not an unknown person in this country. I don’t think there is anybody in this country who will say they don’t know the defendant. Even from the charge, it was stated that he was a minister of this country.
“I urge your Lordship to grant the defendant bail, and we are ready to grant any requirement your Lordship will put to grant him bail. Even this morning, he mentioned how he needs to go to the hospital. The prosecution is asking for his remand, knowing fully well they don’t have the facility to cater to his health issues at Kuje,” Ikwueto, SAN, submitted.
The defence counsel argued that the allegations against Sen Ngige were not comparable to terrorism or treason charges that would justify denying bail.
Justice Hassan, having listened to both counsel, adjourned the matter to December 14 and ordered Ngige’s remand in Kuje.
