- Safiu Kehinde
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has drag former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngigie, to court over alleged corruption.
Ngige, who was also a former Governor of Anambra, is set to be arraigned on Friday at a Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting at Gwarimpa in Abuja.
The ex-Minister would be arraigned on an eight-count charge marked: FCT/HC/CR/726/2025.
In the charge dated October 31 and filed on December 9 by a team of lawyers, led by Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, Ngige was alleged to have committed the offences while serving as Minister of Labour under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.
In count one the defendant was alleged to have between September 2015 to May 2023, while being the supervising Minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), used his position to confer an unfair advantage upon Cezimo Nigeria Limited, a company whose MD/CEO, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles, is his associate.
Ngige was said to have awarded seven different contracts for consultancy, training and supply by the NSITF to the said company to the tune of N366.5 million.
In count two, the defendant was alleged to have while being the supervising Minister of NSITF, used his position to confer an unfair advantage upon Zitacom Nigeria Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles is his associate.
Ngige was merged to have awarded eight different contracts for supply, training and consultancy, with NSITF, to the said company to the tune of N583.7 million.
Count three accused Ngige of using his position to confer an unfair advantage upon Jeff & Xris Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Nwosu Jideofor Chukwunwike is his associate.
He allegedly awarded of eight different contracts for consultancy, training and supplies with NSITF to the said company to the tune of N362 million.
In count four, he was allegedly to have used his position to confer an unfair advantage upon Olde English Consolidated Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Uzoma Igbonwa is his associate.
He was accused of awarding four different contracts for consultancy, training and construction by NSITF to the said company to the tune of N668.1 million.
In count five, the ex-minister was alleged to have used his position to confer unfair advantage upon Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Uzoma Igbonwa is his associate.
Ngige was said to have awarded four different contracts by NSITF to the said company for consultancy, training and supply to the tune of N161.6 million.
The offences were contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
In count six, the defendant was alleged to have corruptly accepted a gift to the tune of N38.6 million, through his “organisation called Senator (Dr) Chris Nwabueze Ngige Campaign Organisation from Cezimo Nigeria Limited (Zenith Bank Account Number 1011901119), a contractor with NSITF, while performing your official act as Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment.”
In count seven, Ngige was alleged to have, while being the minister between September 2015 to May 2023, did corruptly accept a gift, to the tune of N55 million.
The “gift” was received through his organisation called “Senator (Dr) Chris Ngige Scholarship Scheme from Zitacom Nigeria Limited (Zenith Bank Account Number 1017263219), a contractor NSITF, while performing your official act as Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment.”
Also in count eight, the former minister was allegedly to have corruptly accepted a gift, to the tune of N26.1 million, through his organisation called Senator (Dr) Chris Ngige Scholarship Scheme.
The money was received from Jeff & Xris Limited (Zenith Bank Account Number 1011533930), a contractor with NSITF, while performing his official act as Minister of Labour and Employment.
The offences were contrary to Section 17(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under section 179(c) of the same Act.