In a dramatic development, former Labour and Productivity Minister Chris Ngige has been remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre after pleading not guilty to charges of contract fraud amounting to N2.2 billion. The charges stem from allegations that Ngige used his position to confer undue advantages on associates through the award of multiple contracts during his tenure as the supervising minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).

Details of the Charges

Ngige faces eight charges, including abuse of office and receiving gifts from contractors while serving in office between September 2015 and May 2023. The charges were filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and accuse Ngige of orchestrating the award of multiple contracts worth ₦2,261,722,535.84.

Justice Maryam Hassan, presiding over the case at the FCT High Court in Gwarimpa, Abuja, ruled that Ngige should be remanded in Kuje Prison while awaiting the hearing of his bail application scheduled for Monday, December 14.

The Allegations

The EFCC claims that Ngige conspired with various companies to award them contracts while serving as the supervising minister of the NSITF. These contracts allegedly benefitted companies with direct ties to him and his associates, including:

• Cezimo Nigeria Limited (₦366,470,920.68 in seven contracts)
• Zitacom Nigeria Limited (₦583,682,686.00 in eight contracts)
• Jeff & Xris Limited (₦362,043,163.16 in eight contracts)
• Olde English Consolidated Limited (₦668,138,141.00 in four contracts)
• Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited (₦161,604,625.00 in four contracts)

The charges also mention that Ngige’s associate, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles, was involved in some of these contracts.

Next Steps

Following his not guilty plea, Ngige’s legal team will argue for his bail in the coming days. Meanwhile, the EFCC continues its investigation into the full scope of the alleged contract fraud, which has raised questions about corruption at high levels of government.