EFCC Opposes Ngige’s Bid to Secure Bail

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday opposed a bail application filed by former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, following his arraignment before Justice M.A. Hassan of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Gwarimpa, Abuja.

Arguing for the prosecution, EFCC counsel Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, urged the court to exercise caution in considering the request for bail, citing what he described as Ngige’s failure to comply with earlier conditions granted by the commission.

Tahir told the court that the former minister had been allowed to travel abroad for medical reasons on the understanding that he would return his international passport to the EFCC upon his return, an undertaking he allegedly breached until his subsequent arrest.

“He made an undertaking that he will return the passport on November 19, 2025. The defendant could not obtain an affidavit of loss in the UK but rather chose to come back to Nigeria to obtain an affidavit. What stopped him from obtaining a relevant police report from London?” Tahir said.

He further argued that the appropriate step would have been to swear to an affidavit of loss in the country where the passport was allegedly misplaced, adding, “What does Nigerian police know about a loss of passport in the UK?”

The prosecution maintained that Ngige’s conduct amounted to a breach of the administrative bail earlier granted by the EFCC, warning the court against replicating the same terms. Tahir told the court that granting bail under such circumstances would undermine the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

In response, defence counsel Patrick Ikweato, SAN, asked the court to admit the former minister to bail, relying on the processes already filed before the court. “I am asking my lord to admit the defendant to bail, the appeals are there stated in the application. We rely on all the processes as well as the written application,” Ikweato said.

Justice Hassan adjourned the matter until Thursday, December 18, 2025, for a ruling on the bail application.

Ngige is standing trial on an eight-count charge brought by the EFCC, bordering on alleged contract fraud and the acceptance of gifts valued at N2,261,722,535.84.