Former Labour and Employment Minister and ex-Anambra Governor, Chris Ngige, is set to be arraigned today by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Gwarimpa, Abuja, on corruption charges.
Ngige is the sole defendant in the eight-count charge, marked FCT/HC/CR/726/2025, filed by a team of lawyers led by Sylvanus Tahir, SAN.
The charges, dated October 31 and filed on December 9, allege that Ngige committed the offences while serving as Minister of Labour under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari. In count one, he is accused of using his position as supervising Minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) between September 2015 and May 2023 to confer unfair advantage upon Cezimo Nigeria Limited, a company associated with Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles, by awarding seven contracts for consultancy, training, and supply totaling N366,470,920.68.
In count two, Ngige allegedly conferred similar advantages on Zitacom Nigeria Limited, awarding eight NSITF contracts worth N583,682,686. Count three accuses him of favouring Jeff & Xris Limited through eight contracts worth N362,043,163.16. Count four alleges he gave four contracts valued at N668,138,141 to Olde English Consolidated Limited, while count five accuses him of granting four contracts worth N161,604,625 to Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited. All companies cited are linked to associates of Ngige.
Counts six to eight allege that Ngige corruptly accepted gifts totaling N119,783,000 from contractors Cezimo Nigeria Limited, Zitacom Nigeria Limited, and Jeff & Xris Limited through his organisations, including the Chris Ngige Campaign Organisation and the Senator Chris Ngige Scholarship Scheme, while performing his official duties as Minister of Labour and Employment.
The alleged offences are contrary to Section 19 and Section 17(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and are punishable under Section 179(c) of the same Act. Ngige’s arraignment today marks the next step in the EFCC’s prosecution of the case.
