A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Gwarimpa has granted bail to former Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, who is standing trial over alleged financial misconduct.
Ngige is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an eight-count charge bordering on abuse of office and acceptance of gifts valued at about ₦2.2 billion. The alleged offences are linked to gifts reportedly received from contractors of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) during his tenure as supervising minister between September 2015 and May 2023.
In a ruling delivered on Thursday, Justice Mariam Hassan ordered that Ngige be admitted to bail on the same terms as the administrative bail earlier granted him by the EFCC.
Read Also:
One-Party State Allegations Baseless, APC Governors Tell Nigerians
The court directed the former minister to provide a surety who must be a director-level officer and own landed property within the court’s jurisdiction. Justice Hassan also ruled that since Ngige claimed his international passport was misplaced, the surety must deposit his own international passport with the court. The passport will be released only after Ngige produces a replacement for his own.
The judge adjourned the case to January 28 and 29 next year for the commencement of trial.