The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has opposed an application by a former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, seeking bail following his arraignment before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Gwarimpa, Abuja.
Ngige was arraigned on Monday, December 15, 2025, before Justice M.A. Hassan on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged contract fraud and the acceptance of gifts valued at ₦2.26 billion.
Opposing the bail application, prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, urged the court to exercise extreme caution, arguing that the defendant had previously breached the terms of administrative bail granted by the EFCC. Tahir told the court that Ngige failed to return his international passport after being permitted to travel abroad for medical reasons, despite undertaking to do so by November 19, 2025.
According to the prosecution, the former minister claimed his passport was lost in the United Kingdom but did not obtain a police report or swear an affidavit of loss in that country, choosing instead to return to Nigeria to do so. Tahir questioned the propriety of such action and submitted that the defendant was in gross violation of the conditions of his administrative bail.
He further argued that Ngige’s conduct undermined the provisions of Section 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, and urged the court to refuse the bail application and order an accelerated trial.
In response, defence counsel, Patrick Ikweato, SAN, asked the court to admit the defendant to bail, relying on the arguments and grounds contained in the written application before the court.
Justice Hassan adjourned the matter to Thursday, December 18, 2025, for ruling on the bail application.
