BREAKING: EFCC Rejects Ngige’s Bid to Secure Bail

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has opposed an application for bail filed by a former Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, urging the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court to exercise “extreme caution” in considering his request.

Ngige was arraigned on Monday, December 15, 2025, before Justice M. A. Hassan at the High Court sitting in Gwarimpa, Abuja, on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged contract fraud and the acceptance of gifts amounting to over ₦2.26 billion.

Arguing against the bail application, the prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, told the court that Ngige had previously violated the conditions of an administrative bail granted to him by the EFCC.

Tahir explained that the former minister was allowed to travel abroad on medical grounds after undertaking to return his international passport to the Commission on November 19, 2025, an obligation he allegedly failed to meet.

According to the prosecution, Ngige did not return the passport as promised until he was later arrested by the EFCC, a development Tahir said raised serious concerns about his respect for due process and compliance with court orders.

“He made an undertaking that he would return the passport on November 19, 2025,” Tahir told the court. “The defendant claimed he could not obtain an affidavit of loss in the United Kingdom but instead chose to return to Nigeria to obtain one. What stopped him from obtaining a relevant police report from London where the passport was allegedly lost?”

Tahir questioned the logic behind filing an affidavit of loss in Nigeria for a passport reportedly misplaced in the UK, arguing that such a move further demonstrated disregard for proper procedure. He maintained that the defendant was in “gross breach” of the administrative bail earlier granted by the anti-graft agency.

“What does the Nigerian police know about the loss of a passport in the UK?” Tahir asked rhetorically. “The logical thing would have been to depose an affidavit of loss in the country where the incident occurred.”

The EFCC lawyer warned the court against granting Ngige bail under similar terms previously offered by the Commission, saying it would undermine the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015. He specifically cited Section 162 of the Act, which deals with compliance with bail conditions, stressing that the defendant’s conduct posed a risk to the integrity of the judicial process.

“The defendant undermines and jeopardises the provisions of the ACJA,” Tahir submitted. “The totality of this case calls for extreme caution. We urge this honourable court to refuse the application for bail and instead order an accelerated trial.”

In response, Ngige’s counsel, Patrick Ikweato, SAN, urged the court to grant his client bail, insisting that all necessary arguments had been properly laid out in the written application before the court.

“My Lord, I am asking this court to admit the defendant to bail,” Ikweato said. “All the grounds and appeals are clearly stated in the application, and we rely on all the processes filed in support of it.”

After listening to submissions from both parties, Justice Hassan adjourned the matter to Thursday, December 18, 2025, for a ruling on the bail application.

Ngige is currently facing trial on eight counts relating to alleged contract fraud and the acceptance of gifts valued at ₦2,261,722,535.84. The EFCC alleges that the offences were committed while he held public office, though Ngige has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The ruling on Thursday is expected to determine whether the former minister will be granted bail pending the determination of the case or remain in custody as the trial proceeds.