Former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, was on Friday arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before an Abuja High Court in Gwarinpa over allegations of a ₦2.2 billion contract fraud.
Presiding judge, Justice Maryam Hassan, ordered that Ngige be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his bail application, scheduled for Monday, December 14.
Ngige pleaded not guilty to eight counts levelled against him, including abuse of office and acceptance of gifts from contractors of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) during his tenure as supervising minister from September 2015 to May 2023.
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Following his plea, EFCC counsel, Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant to ensure his availability for trial.