The Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee will on Friday arraign former Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige on allegations of corruption, based on data revealed by the Information Company of Nigeria.
The arraignment is scheduled to happen on the Federal Capital Territory Excessive Court docket in Gwarimpa, Abuja.
Ngige, a former Governor of Anambra State, is the only defendant in an eight-count cost marked FCT/HC/CR/726/2025. The fees, filed on December 9 and dated October 31, have been ready by a staff of EFCC prosecutors led by Sylvanus Tahir SAN.
What they’re saying
The EFCC alleges that Ngige dedicated a collection of offences throughout his tenure as Minister of Labour below former President Muhammadu Buhari. The prosecution claims that between September 2015 and Might 2023, Ngige used his place as supervising Minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance coverage Belief Fund to present undue benefit to corporations linked to associates.
One of many fees states that he “used his place to confer an unfair benefit upon Cezimo Nigeria Restricted” by awarding seven consultancy and provide contracts price N366,470,920.68,”
One other rely alleges that he conferred “an unfair benefit upon Zitacom Nigeria Restricted” via eight NSITF contracts valued at N583,682,686.”
The EFCC additional claims that Ngige prolonged comparable benefits to Jeff & Xris Restricted via consultancy, coaching and provide contracts totalling N362,043,163.16. He’s additionally accused of awarding 4 building and consultancy contracts to Olde English Consolidated Restricted valued at N668,138,141, and 4 NSITF contracts to Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Companies price N161,604,625.
The Fee says the alleged actions violate Part 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Different Associated Offences Act 2000.
Alleged acceptance of monetary presents
Along with the contract-related offences, three counts accuse Ngige of accepting monetary advantages from contractors whereas serving as minister.
One of many fees alleges that he corruptly accepted N38,650,000 via his organisation known as Senator (Dr) Chris Nwabueze Ngige Marketing campaign Organisation from Cezimo Nigeria Restricted (Zenith Bank Account Quantity 1011901119), a contractor with NSITF.
One other rely claims he acquired N55,003,000 via his organisation known as ‘Senator (Dr) Chris Ngige Scholarship Scheme from Zitacom Nigeria Restricted (Zenith Bank Account Quantity 1017263219), a contractor of NSITF.
The eighth rely alleges he accepted N26,130,000 “via his organisation known as Senator (Dr) Chris Ngige Scholarship Scheme” from Jeff & Xris Restricted.
These offences, based on the cost sheet, violate Part 17(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Different Associated Offences Act 2000 and are punishable below Part 179(c).
What you must know
The scheduled arraignment of former Labour Minister Chris Ngige sits inside a wider sample of high-profile corruption and abuse-of-office circumstances the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee has pursued in 2025.
One of many extra distinguished figures declared wished this yr is former Minister of State for Petroleum Assets Timipre Sylva, whom the fee says is needed in reference to an alleged conspiracy and dishonest conversion of practically $14.8 million initially injected for the development of a refinery, with the discover tied to a Lagos State Excessive Court docket warrant for his arrest.
Olasijibomi Sujimoto Ogundele, CEO of Sujimoto Luxurious Building Restricted, was declared wished in reference to the alleged diversion of funds and cash laundering.
In June, the EFCC arraigned the Managing Director and Government Director of SunTrust Bank over an alleged $12 million money-laundering scheme, charging them in federal courtroom in Abuja as a part of its crackdown on company monetary misconduct.