Former Minister of Labour and Employment and ex-Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chris Ngige, was on Friday arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on an eight-count charge linked to alleged irregularities in contract awards during his tenure as Minister in charge of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).
Ngige, who served as Governor of Anambra between 2003 and 2006 and later as Senator representing Anambra Central, pleaded “not true” to all eight counts. The somewhat unusual phrasing drew attention from observers, but the prosecuting counsel immediately clarified that “not true” carries the same legal effect as a plea of “not guilty.”
Following the plea, the prosecution requested an order remanding Ngige in the Kuje Correctional Centre, insisting that the nature of the allegations made it inappropriate for him to return home pending trial.
“As you all witnessed, the defendant has been duly arraigned and has pleaded to all eight counts. Before commencement of trial, the proper place of remand is the correctional centre,” the prosecution stated. It further noted that the defence had already filed a formal bail application to which the State intends to respond.
After extended arguments between the parties, the court ordered Ngige’s remand in Kuje Correctional Centre and adjourned hearing of the bail application to Monday.
But Ngige’s defence team, led by Patrick (SAN), offered a sharply contrasting perspective on the day’s proceedings.
“What we asked the court was not that he should go home,” the SAN explained. “We asked that because of his health condition—which even the EFCC has acknowledged—he should have access to proper medical attention. Unfortunately, EFCC facilities cannot meet his medical needs. Our request was simply that wherever he is kept, he must have access to the healthcare he requires.”
He expressed satisfaction that the court recognised the urgency of the matter by scheduling the bail hearing for Monday.
The defence also addressed public interpretations of the charge sheet, emphasising that Ngige is not accused of embezzling public funds.
“Let Nigerians understand this clearly: Dr. Ngige is not being charged with stealing federal government money or embezzling ministry funds,” Patrick, SAN, stated. “The charges only allege that contracts were awarded to his associates during his time as minister. But every MDA, including NSITF, has a tenders board and procurement committees. One individual—minister or not—cannot unilaterally award contracts.”
RELATED TRENDS:
JUST IN: Chris Ngige Remanded In Kuje Correctional Center
He argued that the prosecution will face significant hurdles in proving that the former minister bypassed established procurement structures, or that the contractors in question were unqualified or failed to execute the contracts
