A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Gwarimpa, Abuja, has ordered that former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the ruling on his bail application.
Justice Maryam Aliyu Hassan gave the order on Monday after hearing arguments from both the defence and the prosecution on whether the former minister should be granted bail. The court fixed December 18 for its ruling on the bail request.
Ngige, a former governor of Anambra State, is facing an eight-count charge bordering on alleged corrupt practices involving the sum of N2.2 billion. The charges were filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to the court, the former minister will remain in custody until the date fixed for the ruling, when the judge will decide whether or not to grant him bail.
During the hearing, Ngige’s lawyer, Mr. Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, urged the court to grant his client bail, mainly on health grounds. He told the judge that the former minister has medical issues that require constant attention and would be better managed outside prison custody.
Ikwueto also assured the court that Ngige would not jump bail or interfere with witnesses if released. He argued that his client is a well-known public figure with a fixed address and strong ties to the country.
According to the defence lawyer, Ngige has served Nigeria in various capacities and should be presumed innocent until proven guilty. He added that keeping the former minister in detention while his trial is yet to begin would amount to punishment before conviction.
“The defendant is ready to comply with any bail conditions the court may impose,” Ikwueto said, urging the judge to show leniency.
However, the EFCC strongly opposed the bail application. The anti-graft agency was represented by Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, who told the court that Ngige should not be trusted with bail because he is a flight risk.
Tahir informed the court that the former minister was earlier granted administrative bail by the EFCC during investigations and was allowed to travel abroad for medical treatment. According to him, Ngige failed to return to the country or report back to the commission as required.
The prosecution further stated that Ngige was given his international passport to enable him travel for the medical trip, but that the passport was never returned to the EFCC.
Tahir told the court that it was only after Ngige was later re-arrested that he claimed his passport had been lost. He described the claim as an afterthought and urged the court not to believe it.
“The defendant has shown by his actions that he cannot be trusted,” the EFCC lawyer said. “Granting him bail may give him the opportunity to flee the country and evade trial.”
The prosecution also argued that the charges against Ngige are serious and involve a large sum of public funds. According to the EFCC, granting bail at this stage could affect the smooth prosecution of the case.
After listening to arguments from both sides, Justice Hassan adjourned the matter till December 18 for ruling on the bail application. She ordered that Ngige be kept at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the ruling.
Ngige was arraigned last Friday on an eight-count charge filed by the EFCC. The charges are said to border on alleged corruption and abuse of office, though details of the counts were not fully discussed during the bail hearing.
The case has attracted public attention due to Ngige’s long career in Nigerian politics. He served as Governor of Anambra State between 2004 and 2006 and later as Minister of Labour and Employment from 2019 to 2023.
As Labour Minister, Ngige played a major role in negotiations between the Federal Government and labour unions, especially during disputes over minimum wage and industrial actions. He was also a key figure in national politics and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The EFCC has in recent years intensified its efforts to prosecute high-profile individuals accused of corruption, as part of the Federal Government’s anti-graft drive. The agency maintains that no one is above the law and that public office holders must account for how they manage public funds.
Legal experts say the court’s decision to remand Ngige is in line with procedure, especially where bail applications are still being considered. They note that remand does not mean guilt, as every accused person remains innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.
However, rights groups often raise concerns about the length of pre-trial detention in Nigeria, especially in cases involving prominent individuals. They argue that courts should strike a balance between the rights of the accused and the need to ensure justice.
As Ngige awaits the court’s ruling, all eyes will be on the December 18 sitting, which will determine whether he will be released on bail or remain in custody while the trial continues.
The outcome of the bail application is expected to shape the next phase of the case and may also set the tone for how the court handles the substantive trial.