The political career of former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, took a sharp turn on Friday as he was ordered to be remanded in the Kuje correctional facility following his arraignment on fraud charges.
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting at Gwarinpa, issued the detention order after the erstwhile minister pleaded not guilty to an eight-count charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) preferred against him.
Justice Maryam Hassan, presiding over the case, ruled that Ngige should remain in detention at Kuje until Monday, when the court is scheduled to hear his formal bail application.
Ngige, who served as a minister from November 11, 2015, to May 29, 2023, is facing trial over his alleged complicity in contract fraud totalling over N2.2 billion.
The charge sheet details serious offenses, including abuse of office, as well as the allegation that he accepted kickbacks from firms that were awarded contracts by the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).
The remand ensures he will spend the weekend behind bars pending the court’s decision on his temporary release.
