Alleged N2.2bn fraud: Ngige gets bail in liberal terms after 7 days in Kuje Prison

Justice Maryam Aliyu Hassan of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has admitted former Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige to bail on liberal terms pending the trial of charges against him.

The judge on Thursday adopted the administrative bail earlier granted the former governor of Anambra State by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on self recognizance, as part of the bail conditions.

In addition Justice Hassan ordered Ngige to produce a surety who must be a director in the service of the Federal Government.

The director must have landed property in the FCT with Certificate of Occupancy and must deposit the original copy of the certificate with the court.

Besides, the director must also deposit his international travel passport with the court registrar.

Pending the perfection of the bail conditions, the former minister is to remain at Kuje Prison on remand.

In Thursday’s ruling, Justice Hassan agreed that the charges against Ngige were bailable offences and that the Constitution of the country presumes him innocent until the contrary is established.

The judge also highlighted the need for law courts not to impose outlandish, excessive, harsh and stringent bail conditions on defendants as doing so could amount to refusal of bail in the first instance.

Ngige, a former governor of Anambra State, was on December 12, 2025 arraigned before the court by the EFCC on an eight-count charge of corrupt practices.

He however pleaded not guilty to the charges.

His lawyer, Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, on December 15, 2025, argued his bail application but it was vehemently opposed by EFCC counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, who claimed that he jumped bail when he was earlier granted bail by the anti-graft agency.