Justice Maryam Hassan of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, sitting at Gwarimpa, Abuja, today admitted a former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, to bail.
In granting the former minister bail, the court adopted the earlier bail conditions set by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the defendant in granting him administrative bail.
The anti-corruption commission had admitted Ngige, a former Anambra State governor, to an administrative bail on self-recognition and ordered him to submit his passport to the commission.
Justice Hassan also ordered that Ngige, who served as a minister in the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari between 2015 and 2023, produce one surety who must be a director with the Federal Government and own a landed property in Abuja Municipal and possess an international passport.
The court further directed that the surety must submit his/her passport as well as the Certificate of Occupancy of the landed property to the court registry.
The judge also ordered that Ngige submit his passport after getting a new one.
She subsequently adjourned that case to January 28 and 29, 2026.
Ngige was arraigned before the court by EFCC on Friday, December 12, on an eight-count charge bordering on contract fraud and receiving gratification.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him when read to him in the open court.
The court then remanded him in Kuje correctional facility pending hearing and determination of his bail application and adjourned to Monday, December 15 to hear his bail application.
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