A Federal Capital Territory High Court has ordered the remand of former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige, at the Kuje Correctional Centre over an alleged ₦2.2bn corruption case.
Justice Mariam Hassan issued the order on Friday after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the former Anambra State governor on an eight-count charge. The court adjourned the hearing of his bail application to Monday, December 15.
During the proceedings, EFCC counsel Sylvanus Tahir requested a date for the commencement of trial and asked that Ngige be kept in custody.
However, counsel to the former minister argued that his client had already spent three days in EFCC custody, stressing that Ngige is a well-known public figure and has health challenges requiring medical attention.
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Ngige arrived at the court premises at about 8:10 a.m. in the company of EFCC officials. According to the charge marked FCT/HC/CR/726/2025, the alleged offences were committed between 2015 and 2023 while he served as the supervising minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).
He is accused of using his position to award multiple consultancy, training, and supply contracts worth hundreds of millions of naira to companies linked to his associates.
These include ₦366.4m to Cezimo Nigeria Limited; ₦583.6m to Zitacom Nigeria Limited; ₦362m to Jeff & Xris Limited; and ₦668.1m to Olde English Consolidated Limited. Ngige is the sole defendant in the case.