A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Gwarimpa has ordered that former Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, be remanded in Kuje prison until the bail hearing scheduled for Monday 14 December.
Justice Mariam Hassan issued the order in a ruling on Friday, after Ngige was arraigned on an eight-count charge bordering on abuse of office and acceptance of gifts from contractors of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) from September 2015 to May 2023 when he was supervising minister.
Ngige pleaded not guilty to the charge, shortly after which prosecuting lawyer, Sylvanus Tahir (SAN) sought a date for the commencement of his trial.
Justice Hassan turned down an attempt by Ngige’s lawyer, Patrick Ikwueto (SAN) to apply orally for his client’s bail.
Ikwueto had told the court about a formal bail application that he filed for his client which had been served on the prosecution.
He however, could not move the application because Tahir argued that he was just served and needed time to respond.
The judge agreed with Tahir that the bail application was not ripe for hearing and that the prosecution should be accorded time to respond.
She, therefore, adjourned till Monday for hearing of the bail application and ordered that Ngige be held in Kuje prison till then.
Godfrey Eshiomogie
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