The 73-year-old medical doctor-turned-politician, who also served as governor of Anambra State (2003–2006) and later as Senator, appeared in court at about 8:10 a.m. under heavy security. He listened attentively as the charges were read and pleaded not guilty to every count.
Prosecuting counsel, Sylvanus Tahir SAN, told the court that between September 2015 and May 2023, while Ngige superintended over the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) as minister, he allegedly used his office to confer unfair advantage on companies belonging to his close associates by awarding them contracts for consultancy, training, supply and construction without competitive bidding or budgetary provision.
The companies and the amounts involved are:
- Cezimo Nigeria Limited (owned by Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles) – seven contracts worth N366,470,920.68
- Zitacom Nigeria Limited (also owned by Ezebinwa Charles) – eight contracts worth N583,682,686.00
- Jeff & Xris Limited (owned by Nwosu Jideofor Chukwunwike) – eight contracts worth N362,043,163.16
- Olde English Consolidated Limited (owned by Uzoma Igbonwa) – four contracts worth N668,138,141.00
- Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited (also linked to Uzoma Igbonwa) – four contracts worth N161,604,625.00
These actions, the EFCC said, contravened Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
In addition to the contract inflation and crony awards, the former minister was accused of corruptly enriching himself by receiving monetary “gifts” from the same contractors through accounts belonging to two of his personal organisations:
- N38,650,000 from Cezimo Nigeria Limited paid into the Senator (Dr) Chris Nwabueze Ngige Campaign Organisation (Zenith Bank Account No. 1011901119)
- N55,003,000 from Zitacom Nigeria Limited paid into the Senator (Dr) Chris Ngige Scholarship Scheme (Zenith Bank Account No. 1017263219)
- N26,130,000 from Jeff & Xris Limited
These payments, allegedly made between May and June 2022, are said to violate Section 17(a) and (c) of the Corrupt Practices Act.
After Ngige’s not-guilty plea, prosecution counsel Tahir urged the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendant in Kuje Correctional Centre. He noted that although the EFCC had earlier granted Ngige administrative bail, the ex-minister had failed to surrender his international passport as required — a condition he had undertaken before travelling abroad for medical treatment in October.
Defence counsel, Chief Patrick Ikwueto SAN, told the court that his team only received hearing notice on Thursday evening and could not file a formal bail application. He therefore made an oral application for bail on liberal terms, citing Ngige’s age, health challenges and status as a former governor, senator and two-term minister. Ikwueto also informed the court that the defendant’s passport had been stolen and that the EFCC had been formally notified in writing.
Tahir opposed the oral bail application, insisting that the charges were grave and that the defendant had not fulfilled the conditions of his administrative bail. He argued that allowing bail on self-recognition would amount to trivialising the allegations.
After listening to both sides, Justice Hassan declined the oral bail request and ordered that Dr Chris Ngige be remanded at the Kuje Medium Security Correctional Centre until Monday, 15 December 2025, when his formal bail application will be heard. The judge adjourned the matter accordingly.
The arraignment has generated intense reactions across the country. Supporters of the former minister, mostly from Anambra and the South-East APC caucus, have described the case as politically motivated, pointing out that Ngige was a key figure in delivering the region for President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 election. Civil society organisations and anti-corruption advocates, however, hailed the EFCC for finally bringing to book one of the high-profile figures linked to the long-running NSITF financial scandals.
As the former minister begins what may be a weekend behind bars — a stark fall for a man once regarded as one of the most powerful politicians in the South-East — Nigerians await Monday’s bail hearing and the substantive trial that could expose deeper rot in the management of workers’ welfare funds during the Buhari administration.
