Justice Maryam Aliyu Hassan of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Gwarimpa, Abuja, has ordered that former Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige, be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre until December 18, pending the determination of his bail application.
The order followed arguments from both sides regarding Ngige’s bail request. His lawyer, Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, urged the court to grant bail on health grounds, assuring that the former minister would not evade trial or interfere with witnesses if released.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), represented by Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, opposed the bail request, arguing that Ngige was a flight risk. Tahir noted that Ngige had previously been granted administrative bail and allowed to travel abroad for medical care but failed to report back to the Commission. He also stated that Ngige had not returned the international passport issued for the trip, claiming it was lost only after his re-arrest.
Justice Hassan subsequently fixed December 18 for the court’s ruling on the bail application. Ngige faces an eight-count charge related to alleged corrupt practices, filed by the EFCC last Friday.
