Ngige Keeps EFCC bail as court, demands top FG director as surety
A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Gwarinpa, Abuja, on Thursday affirmed the administrative bail earlier granted to former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Maryam Hassan, while ruling on Ngige’s bail application, maintained that the former minister would continue to enjoy his temporary freedom, but under stricter terms.
The court directed Ngige to provide a surety who must be a serving director in the Federal Civil Service and the owner of a landed property within the jurisdiction of the court. The surety is mandated to submit both the property’s title documents and personal travel documents to the court, pending the completion of Ngige’s own passport retrieval process.
Before now, the EFCC had released Ngige on self-recognition and instructed him to surrender his travel documents to the anti-graft agency while providing a credible surety. However, following Thursday’s ruling, the conditions have now shifted to judicial supervision.
The lead counsel to Ngige, Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), had approached the court seeking relief for his client on the grounds that the EFCC bail conditions had already been met and that the former minister remained available for trial. Justice Hassan noted that the court’s involvement was necessary to ensure transparency, accountability, and the proper monitoring of the case.
Ngige, a former Senator and two-time minister, is currently being investigated by the EFCC for alleged financial misconduct during his tenure in office. Although the specific details of the allegations have not been publicly disclosed, sources within the anti-graft agency hinted that the probe concerns financial dealings linked to his ministerial activities and government allocations.
READ ALSO: Ngige in EFCC custody, not kidnapped, aide clarifies
The ruling represents a significant step in the ongoing legal battle, signalling that Ngige will remain under close watch as the case progresses. Legal analysts believe the stricter conditions underscore the judiciary’s resolve to prevent flight risks and ensure that politically exposed persons comply fully with court proceedings.
Ngige is expected to produce the required surety in the coming days, after which the court will give further directions on the next stage of his trial. The EFCC is also expected to tender more evidence as investigations deepen.
With this development, attention now turns to how quickly the defence team will meet the new requirements and when the court will fix a date for the full commencement of trial. The case continues to generate public interest due to Ngige’s prominence and the growing national concern over corruption allegations involving top government officials.
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