By Ajewole Joshua|ABNews| December 15, 2025
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, December 15, 2025, opposed the bail application filed by a former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, following his arraignment before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Gwarimpa, Abuja.
According to the statement released by the Efcc on its official X handle, Ngige appeared before Justice M. A. Hassan on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged contract fraud and the acceptance of gifts valued at ₦2.26 billion.
Arguing on behalf of the prosecution, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, urged the court to exercise extreme caution in considering the bail request. He told the court that Ngige had violated the administrative bail earlier granted to him by the EFCC by failing to return his international passport after travelling abroad for medical reasons.
According to the prosecution, the former minister had undertaken to return the passport on November 19, 2025, but failed to do so until he was later arrested by the commission.
“He claimed the passport was lost in the United Kingdom, yet he could not obtain an affidavit of loss there. Instead, he returned to Nigeria to obtain one. What prevented him from getting a police report or affidavit in London?” Tahir queried.
He further argued that the defendant’s actions amounted to a gross breach of the conditions attached to his administrative bail and a violation of Section 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
“The defendant is undermining the provisions of the ACJA. Granting bail under these circumstances will amount to shooting ourselves in the leg,” the prosecution submitted, urging the court to refuse the application and order an accelerated trial.
In response, counsel to the defendant, Patrick Ikweato, SAN, appealed to the court to grant Ngige bail, stating that all necessary grounds and processes had been properly outlined in the application before the court.
“I respectfully urge my lord to admit the defendant to bail based on the reasons stated in our written application,” Ikweato said.
After listening to arguments from both parties, Justice Hassan adjourned the case to Thursday, December 18, 2025, for ruling on the bail application.
Ngige is facing trial over allegations of contract-related fraud and the acceptance of gifts amounting to ₦2,261,722,535.84, charges he is yet to formally respond to as the trial continues.
