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BREAKING NEWS: Alleged ₦2.2 Billion Fraud! Why High Court Reserves Ruling On Ngige’s Bail

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A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting at Gwarinpa, Abuja, on Monday deferred ruling till Thursday on the bail application filed by a former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, who is standing trial over an alleged ₦2.2 billion contract fraud.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING

Trial Justice Maryam Hassan adjourned for ruling after listening to arguments from counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the defence.

Naija News reports that Ngige, who served as minister between November 11, 2015 and May 29, 2023, was arraigned last Friday on an eight-count charge bordering on abuse of office and contract fraud allegedly committed while overseeing activities linked to the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge, following which the court ordered that he be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, pending the determination of his bail application.

Part of the allegations against him is that he accepted kickbacks from firms that were awarded NSITF contracts and used his office to confer unfair advantages on associates by influencing contract awards.

The offences are said to be punishable under various provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

Opposing the bail request, the EFCC, through its team of lawyers led by Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, urged the court to decline the application.

The prosecution alleged that Ngige breached an earlier administrative bail granted to him by the Commission, accusing him of failing to return his international passport after travelling abroad in October for medical treatment.

The EFCC also drew the court’s attention to the weight of the charge, noting that it attracts a minimum sentence of five years imprisonment upon conviction.

In response, defence counsel, Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, pleaded with the court to grant his client bail pending the hearing and determination of the case.

He lamented that Ngige had already spent three days in EFCC custody before being brought to court for arraignment.

“The issue of whether he will be granted bail or not is a right in our Constitution. The defendant is not an unknown person in this country.

“I don’t think there is anybody in this country who will say they don’t know the defendant. Even from the charge, it was stated that he was a minister of this country,” Ikwueto said.

He added, “I urge your lordship to grant the defendant bail, and we are ready to fulfil any requirement your lordship will put as a condition for his bail.”

The defence lawyer also told the court that the former minister was not in good health, arguing that the correctional facility lacked the medical capacity to attend to his condition.

Ikwueto further contended that the allegations against his client were not capital offences and were therefore bailable.

Tahir further informed the court that the defendant’s international passport, which was released to enable the overseas trip, had not been returned till date.

According to him, it was only after Ngige was re-arrested that he claimed the passport had been lost.

Describing the explanation as an afterthought, Tahir urged the court to dismiss the bail application, insisting that it lacked merit and should not be granted.

“It is not like they are alleging that he ate the ministry’s money or that of NSITF. The trial will start, and we will see how those contracts were awarded. It is not a terrorism charge or treasonable offence,” he insisted.
Details Of the Alleged Contracts

According to the charge, the EFCC alleged that Ngige used his position to confer unfair advantage on Cezimo Nigeria Limited, a company linked to his associate, by approving seven NSITF consultancy, training and supply contracts valued at ₦366,470,920.68, contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

The Commission further alleged that between September 2015 and May 2023, Ngige awarded eight NSITF contracts worth ₦583,682,686 to Zitacom Nigeria Limited, whose Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles, was described as his associate.

Another eight NSITF contracts valued at ₦362,043,163.16 were allegedly awarded to Jeff & Xris Limited, a firm linked to another associate, Nwosu Chukwunwike.

In count four, Ngige was accused of influencing four contracts worth ₦668,138,141 in favour of Olde English Consolidated Limited, belonging to an associate identified as Uzoma Igbonwa. He was also alleged to have approved another four contracts valued at ₦161,604,625 for the same associate through Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited.
Alleged Kickbacks

The EFCC further alleged that between May and June 2022, the former minister “corruptly” received monetary gifts from NSITF contractors.

It claimed that he received ₦38,650,000 from Cezimo Nigeria Limited through his campaign organisation, ₦55,003,000 from Zitacom Nigeria Limited via his scholarship scheme, and ₦26,130,000 from Jeff & Xris Limited.

The alleged offences are said to be contrary to Sections 17(a) and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

The court adjourned the matter till Thursday for ruling on the bail application.

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Oyo police intercepts truck conveuing explosives in Saki

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The Oyo State Police Command has announced an operational success recorded following an intelligence-led operation.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING

Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Command intercepted a truck conveying materials suspected to be explosive devices during a stop-and-search operation in Saki, Oyo State. The truck and the suspected materials were promptly secured and are currently in police custody.

Upon receiving a briefing on the development, the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Femi Haruna, immediately ordered a comprehensive investigation into the matter.

Consequently, specialised personnel of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit and the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Unit were deployed to safely secure the items for safekeeping and forensic examination. Detailed forensic analysis has since commenced, alongside a thorough and robust investigation to determine the exact nature of the items and their intended use.

The truck driver has been taken into custody and is cooperating fully with investigators as efforts continue to unravel all the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The Commissioner of Police commended the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, for his unwavering support, strategic leadership, and continued provision of operational guidance that enhance proactive, intelligence-driven policing across the country.

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Benue: Armed bandits kill motorcyclist, injure woman in Apa LGA

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One person has died and another sustained injuries following an assault by suspected armed bandits in Apa Local Government Area of Benue State.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING

According to sources, the attack took place on January 24 around 4:00 p.m. along the Amoke–Odugbo road in Ukpogo Village, Edikwu Ward.

The victims, identified as Mr Joseph Okoh and Miss Aneh Sunday, both from Ogodumo, Adoka in Otukpo LGA, were reportedly riding a motorcycle when the assailants struck.

“They were rushed to the Comprehensive Health Centre, Ugbokpo, where Mr Okoh was confirmed dead while receiving treatment. Miss Sunday is currently admitted and responding to treatment,” the source stated.

Nigerian troops were quickly deployed to the area, and a search operation in the surrounding bushes is ongoing to apprehend the attackers.

“The Criminal Investigation Department has commenced an investigation into the incident,” the source added.

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Art & Commercial students don’t fail JAMB because they’re dull. They fail because they’re taught like Science students. Science students calculate — JAMB rewards that. Art students explain — JAMB doesn’t. So you read hard, attend lessons, yet your score disappoints you. This online class fixes that. No theory overload. No confusion. Just real JAMB questions, clear breakdowns, and winning strategies. 📌 JAMB is not hard — you were just taught the wrong way.Click The Link To Reach Us Now 👉 https://wa.me/2349063958940

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2026 UTME: JAMB scraps special privileges for albino candidates over malpractices

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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has scrapped special concessions and registration procedures previously granted to candidates with albinism for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, citing abuse of the privilege to perpetrate examination malpractice.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING

The Board also warned faith-based tertiary institutions to clearly declare their religious status at the point of admission, saying it is deceptive to present as secular and later impose religious rules on students.

As reported by Vanguard, these decisions were taken on Saturday at a meeting between JAMB management, led by its Registrar, Prof. Isaq Oloyede, and Commissioners for Education from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, held in Ikeja, Lagos.

Oloyede said the meeting was convened to review and assess previous admission exercises.

He noted that despite safeguards introduced by the Board, some individuals remained determined to circumvent the system.

“We have stopped some concessions we gave albino candidates. This is because some are using artificial intelligence to manipulate the registration process to look like they are albinos because of the consideration we gave them.

“Last year alone, over 7,000 claimed to be albinos. We have stopped special registration procedures for albinos,” he said.

Addressing complaints from candidates admitted into some private institutions over compulsory religious instruction, Oloyede urged faith-based schools to be transparent.

“Faith-based institutions should declare from the onset what they are, so that whoever applies there will know what he is going to meet there. But some don’t do that. They will pretend to be secular, but once students are admitted, trouble will begin over religious instruction and injunctions.

“If you are a faith-based institution, say so. The law allows you to set up faith-based schools,” he said.

On last year’s UTME, where the highest-scoring candidate was later found to be a 300-level university student, the JAMB registrar said investigations showed that some undergraduates sit for the examination to change courses or assist others to secure admission.

“Students who are already in school but want to change courses and are applying again must declare and disclose their status.

“We have found that some candidates already in school are writing the examination for other candidates. Last year, the candidate who scored the highest was found to be a 300-level student in the university.

“Henceforth, any candidate found engaging in such an act, and who fails to disclose that he is already in school but wants to change course, will be disqualified and will also lose his current admission,” he said.

On admission criteria, Oloyede explained that federal government-owned institutions allocate 45 per cent on merit, 20 per cent on catchment area, 20 per cent to educationally disadvantaged states, while the remaining slots are allocated to other considerations.

“Each owner or state has the right to decide what its admission criteria will be. But for states, we encourage them to allocate at least 10 per cent to merit, regardless of where the candidates come from.

“This is to diversify the student population and admit eggheads from different communities,” he said.

He criticised some states for establishing new universities despite not fully utilising their admission quotas in existing federal institutions.

On underage candidates, Oloyede said 16 years remained the minimum admission age, noting that an attestation process was in place for exceptional cases.

“Last year, about 42,000 claimed to be underage. After evaluation, only 78 met the criteria and were admitted. We are not saying there are no talented candidates, but the figure looks outlandish,” he said.

The issue of how to engage underage candidates during a gap year divided opinions at the meeting, but a majority voted for JAMB to continue its special assessment process.

The meeting also observed that parental pressure on children to complete their education too quickly was a major contributor to the problem.

On efforts to curb examination malpractice, Oloyede said JAMB had stopped the movement of computers between Computer-Based Test centres.

“A computer registered in a particular centre will remain there and is not transferable to another centre. Some people borrow computers to get accredited and later move them around,” he said.

He dismissed claims that candidates were posted to towns they did not choose, saying personal data used for registration were drawn directly from the National Identification Number submitted by candidates.

Providing an update on the 2025 UTME, Oloyede said 974,855 candidates had so far been admitted out of about 1.95 million who sat for the examination.

He added that over N2.4 billion had been disbursed to institutions that consistently complied with JAMB’s rules over the past 10 years, and that the meeting agreed that schools producing the best candidates should be compensated.

On accreditation of CBT centres, Oloyede said the process involved teams comprising university vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts in each state.

He warned state governments against agreements with private promoters who might use centres to facilitate malpractice.

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