A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Gwarinpa has ordered the remand of former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, in Kuje Correctional Centre.
The ruling, delivered on Friday by Justice Maryam Hassan, followed Ngige’s plea of not guilty to an eight-count charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Hassan directed that the former minister remain in custody until Monday, when the court is expected to consider his application for bail.
Ngige, who served in President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet from November 11, 2015, to May 29, 2023, is being prosecuted over allegations of involvement in contract fraud amounting to more than N2.2 billion.
The EFCC is accusing him of abusing his office and allegedly receiving kickbacks from contractors engaged by the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).
