Former Minister of Labour Chris Ngige has denied the N2.2 billion fraud allegation filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC in Abuja, saying his hands are clean.
Senator Ngige, who served as Minister of Labour from November 11, 2015, to May 29, 2023, was arraigned on December 12 on an eight count charge bordering on abuse of office and acceptance of gifts.
He was briefly detained at the Kuje Correctional Centre on the order of the presiding judge.
Justice Maryam Hassan of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Gwarimpa later granted him bail.
After perfecting the bail conditions, Ngige proceeded to attend a caucus meeting of the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress APC at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The EFCC accused the former minister of using his position to confer unfair advantage on companies allegedly linked to his associates.
According to the prosecution, Ngige approved seven consultancy, training and supply contracts of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund NSITF valued at N366.47 million in favour of Cezimo Nigeria Limited.
He was also alleged to have approved eight contracts worth N583.68 million for Zitacom Nigeria Limited.
The anti graft agency further alleged that eight contracts valued at N362.04 million were awarded to Jeff and Xris Limited, while four contracts worth N668.14 million went to Olde English Consolidated Limited.
Another four contracts valued at N161.6 million were allegedly awarded through Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited.
All the companies were said to be linked to Ngige’s associates.
The EFCC also claimed that between May and June 2022, Ngige corruptly received monetary gifts from NSITF contractors.
These allegedly included N38.65 million from Cezimo Nigeria Limited through his campaign organisation, N55.003 million from Zitacom Nigeria Limited via his scholarship scheme, and N26.13 million from Jeff and Xris Limited.
The alleged offences are said to be contrary to Sections 17(a) and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
EFCC counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, opposed the bail application, arguing that Ngige had earlier breached the terms of an administrative bail by failing to return his passport after travelling abroad for medical reasons.
He also cited the weight of the charges, which he said could attract a minimum of five years imprisonment upon conviction.
However, defence counsel Patrick Ikwueto urged the court to grant bail, describing the offences as bailable and arguing that Ngige was a public figure who would not abscond.
He also raised concerns about his client’s health and the medical facilities available at the correctional centre.
The court subsequently granted Ngige bail ahead of trial scheduled for next year.
In a statement after securing bail, Ngige insisted that no fraud was found in the petitions against him and said he left office with a clean record.
He maintained that his three decades in public service, including his tenure as Governor of Anambra State, remained unblemished.
“In all my years of over three decades of public service, including as Governor of a state, I have not been found wanting in the handling of public funds and use of my office,” he said.
Ngige also stated that the charges did not involve embezzlement, misappropriation or theft of public funds.
He questioned how companies could have been given unfair advantage in a process he said ministers neither participate in nor control.
“My hands are clean, and it will be interesting to see where and how these companies were allegedly given ‘unfair advantage’ in a process over which ministers neither participate in nor control,” he said.
He added that Permanent Secretaries, who chair Ministerial Tenders Boards, preside over such processes, noting that the companies mentioned had competed for contracts in the past and often lost bids.
“The five companies mentioned have always competed like all others and, in many instances, failed to win bids. In some cases, as we now know, they were even disqualified for not meeting specific requirements,” he stated.
