A witness in the trial of former Anambra State governor and ex-Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, has told a Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Gwarimpa, Abuja, that an N80 million contract for the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund office in Makurdi was awarded to a company that did not participate in the bidding process.
The disclosure was contained in a statement posted on the official X account of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday. According to the statement, the witness, Mr. Pedro Torwuese Chellen, said his company competed for the contract but later petitioned the EFCC after discovering the alleged irregularity.
Mr. Chellen, an entrepreneur and project manager of Imanil Haq Nigeria Limited, told the court that the contract was awarded under the oversight of Chris Ngige while he supervised the NSITF. He said after failing to obtain satisfactory explanations from the NSITF management, he approached the Bureau of Public Procurement, which confirmed that the company awarded the contract did not take part in the bidding process.
“The First Prosecution Witness, PW1 Mr Pedro Torwuese Chellen in the trial of former governor of Anambra State and former Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige on Wednesday January 28, 2026 told a Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Gwarimpa, Abuja, and presided over by Justice M.A. Hassan said that the company that won the contract for renovation of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund NSITF, Makurdi office at the cost of N80 million (Eighty Million Naira only) did not take part in the contract bidding,” the statement read in part.
The witness also raised concerns over changes made to the project, stating that the contract title was altered from “Renovation of Makurdi Office” to “Construction of Makurdi Office.” He further told the court that the contract sum was increased from N80 million to N120 million. His statements, according to the EFCC, were taken in 2023 during investigations into procurement practices at the NSITF.
During cross-examination by the defence, Mr. Chellen said his petition was directed at the NSITF management board. He added that although he did not attend any board meetings, he later learned through media reports that the board was subsequently reconstituted. The trial was adjourned to January 29, 2026, for continuation.
The case forms part of a broader prosecution initiated by the EFCC, which in December 2025 arraigned Chris Ngige over allegations of corruption linked to his tenure as Minister of Labour and Employment. Ngige is the sole defendant in an eight-count charge marked FCT/HC/CR/726/2025, filed on December 9 and prepared by EFCC prosecutors led by Sylvanus Tahir, SAN.
The commission alleges that between September 2015 and May 2023, Ngige, while supervising the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, granted undue advantage to companies linked to his associates. The charges include allegations that contracts worth hundreds of millions of naira were awarded to firms such as Cezimo Nigeria Limited, Zitacom Nigeria Limited, Jeff & Xris Limited, Olde English Consolidated Limited, and Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services.
Ngige is also accused of accepting financial gifts from contractors during his time in office, including sums of N38.65 million, N55 million, and N26.13 million allegedly received through organisations linked to him. The EFCC maintains that the alleged actions contravene Sections 17(a) and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
Following his arraignment in December 2025, the EFCC opposed Ngige’s bail application, urging the court to exercise caution. Prosecutors told the court that the former minister failed to comply with the conditions of an earlier administrative bail, including the requirement to surrender his international passport after travelling abroad for medical treatment. The commission also stated that Ngige is facing trial over alleged contract fraud and the acceptance of gifts totalling N2.26 billion.
