A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Gwarinpa has ruled that former Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige, should remain on the administrative bail earlier granted to him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Mariam Hassan, however, directed that Ngige provide a surety who must be a serving director in the Federal Government and possess landed property. The surety is required to submit property documents and travel documents to the court pending the completion of the process for retrieving Ngige’s passport.
The EFCC had initially granted Ngige bail on self-recognition, with conditions that included the submission of his travel documents and the provision of a surety.
Ngige, a former governor of Anambra State, was previously remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre before the court’s ruling.
He is currently facing an eight-count charge related to alleged corrupt practices involving approximately ₦2.2 billion. The charges, dated October 31 and filed on December 9, were brought by a legal team led by Sylvanus Tahir, SAN.
The alleged offences were said to have been committed during Ngige’s tenure as Minister of Labour under former President Muhammadu Buhari. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
