iDeemlawfulThe Federal High Court in Gwarimpa, Abuja, has granted bail to embattled former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige, in the ongoing corruption case filed against him.
Justice Maryam Hassan, while granting bail to Ngige, adopted the terms of the administrative bail earlier granted to him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
She further ruled that, as part of the bail conditions, the defendant must present one surety who is a director on the federal government payroll and who owns property within the Federal Capital Territory.
Justice Hassan overruled a preliminary objection raised by the anti-graft agency opposing the former minister’s bail application, holding that the court was empowered to exercise its discretion on matters relating to bail.
The judge also directed Ngige to submit his travel documents to the court, stressing that bail is discretionary and that its conditions must not be excessive or oppressive.
Justice Hassan added that judicial powers should not be exercised arbitrarily and subsequently adjourned the matter to January 28 and 29, 2026, for trial.
Ngige, who served as a minister between November 11, 2015, and May 29, 2023, was arraigned before the court on December 12 by the EFCC over alleged involvement in contract fraud amounting to more than ₦2.2 billion.
Although the former Anambra State governor pleaded not guilty to the charges upon arraignment, the trial judge had ordered his remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja pending the hearing of his bail application.
The charges include allegations of abuse of office and claims that he received kickbacks from companies awarded contracts by the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).
It was further alleged that he exploited his official position to grant undue advantage to associates by awarding contracts to firms linked to them.