The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has opposed the bail application filed by a former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, following his arraignment before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Gwarimpa, Abuja.
Ngige was arraigned on Monday, December 15, 2025, before Justice M. A. Hassan on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged contract fraud and the acceptance of gifts amounting to ₦2,261,722,535.84.
Arguing against the bail application, prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, urged the court to exercise extreme caution, citing Ngige’s alleged breach of the administrative bail earlier granted to him by the EFCC. Tahir told the court that the former minister failed to return his international passport after being allowed to travel abroad on medical grounds.
According to the prosecution, Ngige had undertaken to return the passport on November 19, 2025, but failed to do so until he was eventually arrested by the commission.
“He made an undertaking that he would return the passport on November 19, 2025. The defendant claimed he could not obtain an affidavit of loss in the UK but chose to return to Nigeria to obtain one. What stopped him from obtaining a relevant police report from London?” Tahir queried.
He further argued that the defendant’s actions amounted to a gross violation of the terms of the administrative bail, adding that Ngige was in breach of Section 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
“What we are saying, my Lord, is that the defendant is in gross breach of the administrative bail granted by the EFCC. Suddenly, he is asking this court to grant him bail on the same terms. The totality of this case calls for extreme caution,” the prosecution submitted, urging the court to refuse the bail application and order an accelerated trial.
In response, counsel to the defendant, Patrick Ikweato, SAN, appealed to the court to grant Ngige bail, stating that all relevant grounds and processes had been properly placed before the court.
Justice Hassan adjourned the matter to Thursday, December 18, 2025, for ruling on the bail application.
