- EFCC Arraigns Ex-Labour Minister Chris Ngige Over ₦2.2bn Fraud Allegations
- Charges include contract awards to associates and cash gifts from contractors
- Ex-minister to enter plea today at FCT High Court
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will today arraign former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, before the Gwarinpa Division of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja over alleged fraud totalling ₦2,261,722,535.84. Court officials confirmed that the former minister is expected to take his plea before the trial judge.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that according to court filings, Ngige faces an eight-count charge centred on abuse of office and allegedly receiving monetary gifts from contractors of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, the agency he supervised between September 2015 and May 2023.
Counts one to five outline allegations that Ngige used his position to confer undue advantage on companies linked to his associates through the award of multiple NSITF consultancy, training and supply contracts worth over ₦2.1 billion. In the first count, the EFCC alleged that he approved seven contracts worth ₦366,470,920.68 for Cezimo Nigeria Limited.
In the second count, the Commission accused him of awarding eight contracts totalling ₦583,682,686 to Zitacom Nigeria Limited. The charge reads in part, “Between September 2015 to May 2023 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court and being the supervising Minister of the NSITF, you used your said position to confer an unfair advantage upon Zitacom Nigeria Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles, is your associate, by the award of eight different contracts for supply, training and consultancy to the tune of N583,682,686.00.”
The EFCC also alleged that Jeff & Xris Limited, owned by another associate, received eight NSITF contracts worth ₦362,043,163.16.
In the fourth count, Ngige was accused of influencing four contracts valued at ₦668,138,141 in favour of Olde English Consolidated Limited. A fifth count alleged four contracts worth ₦161,604,625 were awarded to Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited.
Counts six to eight accuse the former minister of corruptly receiving monetary gifts from NSITF contractors in 2022.
The EFCC alleged he received ₦38,650,000 from Cezimo Nigeria Limited through his campaign organisation, ₦55,003,000 from Zitacom Nigeria Limited through his scholarship scheme and ₦26,130,000 from Jeff & Xris Limited.
These offences are alleged to contravene sections 17(a) and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
