December 18, 2025 — Dalena Reporters
A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Gwarinpa, Abuja has ruled that former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, will continue to enjoy the administrative bail previously granted to him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in his ongoing corruption trial, but with new conditions attached, officials said on Thursday.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Mariam Hassan directed that Ngige’s existing EFCC bail remain in force while he perfects its terms, overruling arguments that he should be kept in custody. The judge, however, imposed fresh conditions, requiring Ngige to produce a surety who must be a director-level officer in the Federal Government and own landed property in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The surety must deposit title documents and travel documents with the court pending completion of the retrieval of Ngige’s passport.
Ngige had earlier been granted administrative bail on self-recognition by the EFCC, with the commission’s own requirement that he submit his travel documents and provide one credible surety. Justice Hassan confirmed that this form of bail designed to allow temporary release during trial would remain applicable subject to the expanded conditions.
In arguments before the court, Ngige’s defence counsel, Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, urged that the former minister be admitted to bail on health and constitutional grounds, asserting that he posed no flight risk or threat to the justice process. Ikwueto stressed that Ngige had returned to Nigeria after travelling abroad for medical treatment, and that any passport issues had been legitimately reported and were beyond his control.
The EFCC, represented by Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, opposed the bail application, arguing that Ngige had breached the terms of his earlier administrative bail by failing to return his passport after a foreign trip, and emphasised that the former minister should not be allowed to flout bail conditions without consequence. The anti-graft agency’s counsel described the passport issue as evidence of potential flight risk and urged the court to exercise caution.
Justice Hassan agreed that while Ngige should be entitled to bail noting that bail conditions must be reasonable and not tantamount to denial of bail — it was appropriate to tighten conditions to safeguard the trial process. Among the fresh conditions are the requirements for the surety’s federal service status, land ownership, and submission of documentation.
The court’s ruling means Ngige will remain on administrative bail while he works to meet the additional conditions, with his physical release pending perfection of those terms. His trial on an eight-count charge alleging N2.2 billion contract fraud and related offences — is set to begin on January 28 and 29, 2026, according to court filings.
Ngige, a former governor of Anambra State and long-time political figure, has pleaded not guilty to the charges brought by the EFCC, which allege abuse of office and corrupt award of contracts while he supervised the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).
The high-profile case continues to draw public attention, highlighting ongoing debates over judicial discretion, bail rights and anti-corruption enforcement in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.