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BREAKING NEWS: Alleged ₦2.2 Billion Fraud! Why High Court Reserves Ruling On Ngige’s Bail
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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The Kano State Government has announced that the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, will lead this year’s Eid-el-Fitr Durbar, even as it unveiled strict guidelines to prevent a breakdown of law and order during the celebrations.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
The government said the decision, approved by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, followed credible intelligence reports indicating attempts by some individuals to create unrest during the Sallah period.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, the government said it remained committed to preserving Kano’s cultural heritage but would prioritise peace and security.
According to the statement, Hawan Idi (Eid Durbar) will be conducted by Emir Sanusi from the Kofar Mata Eid Ground through designated routes to Gidan Shettima, terminating at Kofar Fatalwa of the emir’s palace.
It added that Hawan Nasarawa would be held in a modified form without horseback displays, while Hawan Daushe, Hawan Fanisau and Hawan Dorayi have been suspended for the time being in the interest of public safety.
The government said all security agencies had been directed to intensify surveillance and ensure strict compliance with the directives before, during and after the festive period.
It urged residents to remain calm, law-abiding and cooperative with security agencies, while cautioning against the spread of unverified information.
The government further assured the public of its commitment to a peaceful and hitch-free Sallah celebration, wishing Muslims in the state a joyous Eid-el-Fitr.
The Durbar, a centuries-old cultural procession, has been thrown into uncertainty following conflicting statements from government officials on whether it will hold this year, given the unresolved legal battle between Sanusi II and Aminu Ado Bayero.
While Governor Yusuf reinstated Sanusi II in 2024, Bayero continues to contest his dethronement in court, leaving the emirship in dispute.
The government recently hinted that the stool controversy would soon be resolved.
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Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has dismissed comments by human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, over what he described as transactional politics and activism.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
PUNCH Online reports that Sowore’s comment followed a viral video in which the activist criticised what he described as “transactional politics” among some regional agitators and influencers, accusing them of aligning with political actors for personal or material benefit.
In the video, Sowore appeared to reference Igboho, suggesting that his recent political positions, including support for President Bola Tinubu’s potential re-election bid, reflected what he termed “amala politics” — a colloquial expression often used to imply opportunistic or interest-driven engagement rather than principled activism.
Igboho, in a statement issued by his media aide, Olayomi Koiki, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Tuesday, criticised Sowore for allegedly describing his activism as “amala politics” in a recent viral video circulating on social media.
He described the comment as an inconsequential rant that should be ignored by the public.
Igboho argued that his agitation for improved security in the South-West and his support for the second-term bid of President Bola Tinubu in 2027 were constitutional rights aimed at promoting the collective interests of the Yoruba people and the development of Nigeria.
He said, “We strongly reject the characterisation of Igboho’s activism as transactional. Such a myopic position misrepresents the intent and focus of our agitation on effective grassroots security in the South-West and Nigeria as a whole.
“How many protests did Sowore organise to push for my freedom? Sowore’s claim of fighting for the masses contradicts his alleged daily lodging expenses of N450,000 at a popular Lagos hotel.
“I cannot be compelled to endorse political figures such as Peter Obi or Atiku Abubakar, or even align with Sowore’s political platform. I have the right to make independent political decisions based on the security and collective interests of the Yoruba people.”
He added that Igboho’s advocacy prioritises addressing insecurity across Yorubaland, including killings of farmers, kidnappings along highways and attacks on traditional rulers and royal institutions.
Koiki, however, clarified that these concerns form the basis of Igboho’s movement rather than any ambition for political office or revolutionary leadership.
The statement added, “While Sowore has consistently promoted nationwide revolution as a pathway to leadership, Igboho’s approach is rooted in protecting lives, land and property within Yoruba territory. This agitation is a response to real and ongoing threats faced by communities in the region.
“Latest security incidents in northern Nigeria, including reported explosions in Maiduguri on March 16, 2026, also raise questions about the broader effectiveness of long-term revolutionary advocacy.
“We challenge Sowore to assess the situation in his home state of Ondo State, considering the growing cases of banditry, kidnapping and attacks on rural communities.”
The statement added that the impact of insecurity on vulnerable groups, including farmers, traditional rulers, women and children, had been severe, with several communities reportedly affected.
“These realities reinforce Igboho’s long-standing call since 2020 for localised security measures and stronger regional protection strategies.
“Labelling our agitation and efforts as ‘amala politics’ undermines the urgency of the security crisis and the legitimacy of grassroots agitation,” the statement concluded
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The continuous detention of the former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has sparked reactions from politicians and socio-political activists.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
DAILY POST reports that the former governor has been in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, over an ongoing investigation into alleged financial impropriety when he was governor.
El-Rufai had earlier spent two nights in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before he was picked up by the Department of State Services and then later handed over to the ICPC.
His continuous detention has sparked outrage among citizens who are calling on the commission to immediately charge the former governor to court.
Popular socio-political activist, Aisha Yesufu, said in a post on X that “holding a citizen indefinitely without trial” is impossible.
According to her, “that is not justice. That is not accountability. That begins to look like persecution.
“Every Nigerian, no matter how powerful or unpopular, has the right to a fair hearing. That right is not a favour from the government. It is a constitutional guarantee. If El-Rufai committed crimes, then prosecute him. Nigerians will support that. But what we must never
Support is a system where the government can detain anyone endlessly, simply because it can.
“Today, it may be El-Rufai. Tomorrow, it could be anyone else who speaks or acts in a way that those in power do not like. A democracy must be better than that.
“So the message is simple: charge him in court or release him. Let justice be done openly, lawfully, and transparently. That is the only way a nation that claims to respect the rule of law should act”.
Similarly, an activist lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, in an interview he posted on X on Wednesday, demanded that the former governor be charged to court immediately, condemning El-Rufai’s incarceration.
“No matter the allegations, I think he should be charged in a court of competent jurisdiction so that he can face the music.
“All these things currently going on don’t look tidy to me”, he said.
On his part, Paul Ibe, a media aide to the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, lambasted ICPC for not charging the former governor to court.
In a statement on his X handle, Ibe accused the Commission of taking sides with the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
He wrote, “The matter of the former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai @elrufai has proven beyond measure that the ‘I’ in ICPC (Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission) @icpcnigeria represents Illegal or Irresponsible.
“There’s nothing Independent about the Commission. They’re no different from all the other institutions of state that are standing on Tinubu’s mandate. The ICPC is nauseatingly pliable and has disgracefully made itself available in coercing members of the opposition into the ruling party”!
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