2.2bn Fraud Scandal: Why Court Ordered Ngige Back to Kuje Prison Till December 18

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting at Gwarimpa, Abuja, has ordered that former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige, remain in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the determination of his bail application, in a case involving alleged 2.2 billion fraud.

Justice Maryam Aliyu Hassan issued the remand order on Monday after hearing arguments from both the defence and the prosecution on whether the former Anambra State governor should be released on bail. The court fixed December 18 for ruling on the bail request.

Ngige, who was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is standing trial on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged corrupt practices and financial misconduct amounting to 2.2 billion.

Counsel to the former minister, Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, urged the court to grant bail, citing Ngige's health condition and assuring that his client would neither jump bail nor interfere with witnesses.

According to the defence, Ngige is a senior citizen, a well-known public figure, and has consistently submitted himself to judicial processes, arguing that continued detention could worsen his medical condition.

However, the EFCC, through its counsel Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, strongly opposed the application, insisting that Ngige poses a serious flight risk.

The anti-graft agency told the court that Ngige had previously been granted administrative bail and allowed to travel abroad for medical treatment, but failed to report back to the Commission as required.

EFCC further alleged that the former minister did not return his international passport, which was released to him for the trip, until his re-arrest. According to the prosecution, Ngige's later claim that the passport was lost was an afterthought and should not be trusted.

The Commission argued that these actions clearly demonstrate a likelihood that Ngige could evade trial if released on bail.

After listening to submissions from both sides, Justice Hassan declined to rule immediately and adjourned the matter to December 18 for a formal ruling on the bail application. Pending that decision, the court ordered that Ngige be remanded at Kuje Prison.

The case has since generated significant public interest, given Ngige's long political career and the scale of the alleged fraud.