A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Gwarimpa, Abuja, has ordered that former Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige, remain in Kuje Correctional Centre until December 18, when a ruling will be delivered on his bail application.
Justice Maryam Aliyu Hassan gave the order on Monday after hearing arguments from both the defence and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over Ngige’s request for bail.
The former Anambra State governor is facing trial over an alleged ₦2.2 billion fraud, for which he was last Friday arraigned on an eight-count charge bordering on corrupt practices.
Arguing in favour of bail, Ngige’s counsel, Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, urged the court to grant his client bail on health grounds, assuring the judge that the former minister would not abscond or interfere with witnesses.
However, the EFCC strongly opposed the application. The Commission’s counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, told the court that Ngige posed a flight risk.
Tahir said the defendant was previously granted administrative bail by the EFCC and allowed to travel abroad for medical treatment but failed to report back to the Commission as required.
He further told the court that Ngige did not return the international passport released to him for the trip, adding that the claim that the passport was lost only surfaced after his re-arrest.
According to the prosecution, the explanation was an afterthought and should not be accepted by the court.
After listening to both parties, Justice Hassan adjourned the matter to December 18 for ruling on the bail application and ordered that Ngige remain in custody until then.