A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Gwarimpa, Abuja, has ordered that former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre until December 18.
Justice Maryam Aliyu Hassan gave the order on Monday after hearing arguments for and against Ngige’s bail application. The court said the former Anambra State governor will remain in custody pending a ruling on the bail request.
Ngige’s counsel, Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, urged the court to grant his client bail, citing health concerns. He assured the court that Ngige would not abscond or interfere with witnesses if released.
However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, strongly opposed the application. Counsel to the EFCC, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, told the court that Ngige posed a flight risk.
Tahir argued that the former minister had previously been granted administrative bail by the EFCC and was allowed to travel abroad for medical treatment but failed to report back to the commission upon his return. He added that Ngige did not return the international passport released to him for the trip.
According to the EFCC lawyer, Ngige only claimed that his passport was missing after he was re-arrested, describing the claim as an afterthought that should not be accepted by the court.
After listening to both parties, Justice Hassan adjourned the matter to December 18 for a ruling on the bail application.
Ngige was arraigned last Friday on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged corrupt practices involving N2.2 billion.
