Justice Maryam Aliyu Hassan of the Federal Capital Territory High Court has granted bail to former Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige, on liberal terms pending the trial of charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a ruling delivered on Thursday, the judge adopted the administrative bail earlier granted by the EFCC, allowing Ngige to be released on self-recognisance, subject to additional conditions imposed by the court.
Justice Hassan ordered the former Anambra State governor to provide one surety who must be a serving director in the Federal Civil Service. The surety is required to own landed property within the FCT, present a valid Certificate of Occupancy, deposit the original document with the court, and also submit an international passport to the court registrar.
Until the bail conditions are fully perfected, Ngige is to remain in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
The judge held that the offences for which Ngige was charged are bailable and reaffirmed the constitutional presumption of innocence. She also cautioned against imposing excessive or overly stringent bail conditions, noting that such practices could amount to a denial of bail.
Ngige was arraigned on December 12, 2025, on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged corrupt practices, to which he pleaded not guilty. His bail application, argued on December 15 by his counsel, Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, was opposed by EFCC counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, who alleged that Ngige previously jumped administrative bail and failed to return travel documents released to him.
Justice Hassan has fixed January 28 and 29 for the commencement of trial.
According to the charge marked FCT/HC/CR/726/2025, Ngige is accused of abusing his position as Minister of Labour between 2015 and 2023 to confer unfair advantages on several companies allegedly linked to his associates through contract awards by the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), running into billions of naira.
He is also accused of corruptly receiving monetary gifts through organisations linked to him from companies said to be contractors with the NSITF.
The alleged offences are said to contravene Sections 17 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
