A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Gwarinpa, Abuja, has ordered a former Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, to continue enjoying the administrative bail earlier granted him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), but under stricter conditions.
Justice Maryam Hassan gave the ruling on Thursday while delivering her decision on the bail application filed by Ngige and argued by his lead counsel, Patrick Ikwueto (SAN).
The court ordered Ngige to provide a surety who must be a serving director in the Federal Government and own a landed property within the Federal Capital Territory. The surety is required to deposit the property’s title documents, as well as their travel documents, with the court.
Justice Hassan further ruled that Ngige must not travel outside Nigeria, pending the recovery of his international passport, which the former minister claimed was stolen while he was in the United Kingdom.
Although the EFCC had earlier granted Ngige administrative bail on self-recognition, the court directed that he should remain at the Kuje Correctional Centre until all bail conditions are fully perfected.
Ngige is facing eight counts bordering on alleged contract fraud amounting to ₦2.2 billion. He is the sole defendant in the charge.
marked FCT/HC/CR/726/2025, filed by the EFCC on December 9.
According to the prosecution, led by EFCC counsel Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), Ngige allegedly received ₦2.2 billion as kickbacks from contractors of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund while serving as supervising minister between September 2015 and May 2023 under the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
The former minister was arraigned on December 12, where he pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
During the hearing of the bail application on December 15, the EFCC urged the court to deny bail, alleging that Ngige breached the terms of an earlier bail by failing to return his travel documents and refusing to report to the commission until he was re-arrested.
In response, Ngige’s counsel urged the court to grant bail on health grounds, arguing that the offences were bailable and not capital in nature.
In her ruling, Justice Hassan held that the alleged offences were indeed bailable and reaffirmed the constitutional presumption of innocence. She cautioned against imposing excessive bail conditions, noting that overly stringent terms could amount to a denial of bail.
The judge subsequently granted bail on liberal terms and adjourned the matter to January 28 and 29 for the commencement of trial.
