The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained a former governor of Anambra State Chris Ngige.
Mr Ngige, who served as minister of labour and employment from 2015 to 2023, was picked up by EFCC operatives on Wednesday at his residence on Justice Mohammed Bello Road in Abuja.
Earlier on Wednesday, there were widespread reports claiming that the former governor had been abducted by gunmen in the Federal Capital Territory.
His former media aide, Fred Chukwuelobe, later debunked the rumour.
In a statement titled “Ngige Has Not Been Kidnapped,” Mr Chukwuelobe wrote on Facebook that the former minister was taken into EFCC custody.
“I have been receiving calls in the past hour from friends and journalists seeking the veracity of the news making the rounds that His Excellency, Dr. Chris Ngige, former governor of Anambra State and immediate past minister of labour and employment, ‘has been kidnapped.’ Ngige is with the EFCC. He was not abducted or kidnapped,” he wrote.
He said more details would be provided later.
The reason for Ngige’s arrest has not yet been disclosed by the anti-graft agency.
Chris Ngige, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), served as governor of Anambra State from 29 May 2003 to 17 March 2006 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
His arrest comes 14 days after gunmen attacked his convoy along the Nkpor–Nnobi Road in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
A woman recording the attack was shot dead, while a police officer attached to the convoy was also shot.
Ngige was not in the convoy at the time.
