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EFCC arraigns ex-Minister Ngige in Court over contract fraud
The former Minister of Labour and Employment in the immediate past administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari, Dr. Chris Ngige has been arraigned at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja over alleged contract fraud.
This week, he was arrested in his Abuja residence and taken into custody with concerns that he was abducted by the unknown gun men. His former Media Adviser later clarified that the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested him and cooling off in their custody.
The EFCC accused Ngige who was also a former governor of Anambra State of using his position to confer undue advantage by awarding multiple contracts to his friends and companies linked to him.
According to documents dated 31st November, 2025, the ex-Minister was arraigned on eight-count charge at the Federal Capital Territory high court in Gwarimpa on Friday, but he pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
He was also accused of receiving bribe in millions of naira from contractors working for the Nigeria Social Insurance Tust Fund, NSITF, an agency under his supervision between September 2015 and May 2023.
Details of amounts involved were also reflected in the charge sheet tendered before the Court as: “Counts one to five detail how Ngige allegedly used his position to confer undue advantages on companies linked to his associates through the award of multiple contracts. The total value of these contracts exceeds ₦2.1 billion.
In the first count, the EFCC alleged that Ngige used his position to confer an unfair advantage on Cezimo Nigeria Limited, linked to an associate, by approving seven NSITF consultancy, training and supply contracts worth N366,470,920.68.
The offence, according to the EFCC, is contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
In the second count, he was accused of awarding eight contracts worth ₦583,682,686 to Zitacom Nigeria Limited, a company also linked to an associate.
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