The Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Gwarimpa, Abuja, is set to rule on December 18 on the bail application of former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, who is facing allegations of N2.2 billion fraud. Justice Maryam Hassan fixes the date after hearing arguments from both the defence and the prosecution.
According to Mediaplusng.com, Justice Hassan orders that Ngige remain in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the ruling on his bail request. The judge issues the directive shortly after concluding submissions on the application from counsel on both sides.
Ngige’s lawyer, Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, urges the court to grant bail, citing health concerns and insisting that his client is not a flight risk. He tells the court that the former Anambra State governor has no intention or capacity to leave the country at this time and will not interfere with witnesses or obstruct the trial if released.
Mediaplusng.com reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) strongly opposes the bail application. EFCC counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, argues that Ngige poses a flight risk, recalling that the defendant was previously granted administrative bail and allowed to travel abroad for medical treatment but allegedly failed to report back to the commission.
The prosecution further claims that the international passport released to Ngige for the trip was never returned. Tahir tells the court that Ngige only raised the issue of a missing passport after his re-arrest, describing the claim as an afterthought and urging the judge to dismiss the bail application as lacking merit.
After listening to both arguments, Justice Hassan adjourns the matter to December 18 for a ruling on the bail request. The case continues to draw public attention due to the high-profile status of the defendant and the scale of the alleged offence.
The former Minister of Labour and Employment is arraigned last Friday on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged corrupt practices. He pleads not guilty to all the charges and awaits the court’s decision on his request for bail.
