₦airaland Forum

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has finalised plans to arraign a former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, today (Friday) over alleged fraud totalling N2,261,722,535.84.

Court officials confirmed that the arraignment is scheduled to take place at the Gwarinpa Division of the Federal Capital Territory High Court.

According to court documents seen by our correspondent, Ngige is facing eight counts bordering on abuse of office and acceptance of gifts from contractors of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund while serving as its supervising minister between September 2015 and May 2023.

In the first count, the EFCC alleged that Ngige used his position to confer an unfair advantage on Cezimo Nigeria Limited, linked to an associate, by approving seven NSITF consultancy, training and supply contracts worth N366,470,920.68.

The offence, according to the EFCC, is contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

In the second count, he was accused of awarding eight contracts worth N583,682,686 to Zitacom Nigeria Limited, a company also linked to an associate.

“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, with the NSITF, to the said company to the tune of N583,682,686.00 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000,” the second count read.

The EFCC also alleged that eight NSITF contracts valued at N362,043,163.16 were awarded to Jeff & Xris Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Nwosu Chukwunwike, is the ex-minister’s associate.


In the fourth count, Ngige was accused of influencing four contracts worth N668,138,141 in favour of Olde English Consolidated Limited.

The EFCC alleged that, “You, Chris Ngige, whilst being the Minister of Labour and Employment of the Federal Republic of Nigeria between September 2015 to May 2023 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court and being the supervising Minister of the NSITF, used your said position to confer an unfair advantage upon Olde English Consolidated Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Uzoma Igbonwa is your associate, by the award of four different contracts for consultancy, training and construction by the NSITF to the said company to the tune of N668,138,141.00 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”

In the fifth count, Ngige was alleged to have given four contracts worth N161,604,625 to Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited, whose owner was identified Uzoma

Igbonwa, an associate of Ngige.

Counts six to eight accused the former minister of corruptly receiving monetary gifts from NSITF contractors between May and June 2022.

The EFCC alleged that he received N38,650,000 through his campaign organisation from Cezimo Nigeria Limited, N55,003,000 through his scholarship scheme from Zitacom Nigeria Limited, and N26,130,000 from Jeff & Xris Limited.

The offences, according to the EFCC, violate sections 17(a) and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

Ngige is expected to take his plea when the case is called today.

Source: https://punchng.com/alleged-n2-2bn-fraud-efcc-arraigns-ex-labour-minister-ngige-today/?am

ASUU members right nowwww

Good job. But I believe judge will release him which is the nigeria problem. And many are criticising ASUU, where as these people are embezzling in billions.

Interesting... how things change

They should free the guy. Abeg

Purely politics how useless members and his leadership from top to bottom.
No political party played this kind of politics and succeed.
When Nigerians are ready Apc will be a story

Public officials must learn to declare gifts received while in office. it will save them from a lot of questioning after office. Certain office would always attract kickbacks disguised as gifts. You must be resolute and seen to be that too.

Judolisco:
ASUU members right nowwww

It's like if you have not posted something about Peter Obi in a day, you will be very restless, Ngige is APC, worked for Buhari and Tinubu but you are here posting Obi's picture... chai!

CORRUPT POTS CALLING A CLEANER KETTLE BLACK
Why witch hunt ngige of all persons?
Why?

If truly this efcc want to work all Nigerians politicians suppose to be inside jailed since 1960 including the president. But the problem and painfull thing all Nigerians politicians only go jailed on media without going to the real jail in life.

He should try his best to be a card carrying member of APC after that he will be given a white garment without stain...APC were demons are converted to saints,

watchindelta:
If truly this efcc want to work all Nigerians politicians suppose to be inside jailed since 1960 including the president. But the problem and painfull thing all Nigerians politicians only go jailed on media without going to the real jail in life.

I don't think you really want that, because it will strike close to home.

Why is it that this NSITF is always on the news for embezzlement and contracts fraud. It appears there is a lot of unaccounted and idle funds there.
The agency should be retooled to pay salaries of those -both private and civil servants who lose their jobs before they get another job.

Is the former minister an apc member? If yes, all this na for show

Thank God he's not muslim or opposition, or is he?
Who wants a working country when their preferred candidate is out and hopeless about the national cake sharing?
If they pick APC, they'll say it's show, if they pick non-APC, they'll say it's persecution by Tinubu, if they pick muslim, they'll say it's systemic fight against islam and the north, if they pick professing christian, they'll say it's islamisation and muslim muslim ticket. Oh, i forgot, some sorry people can say it's unjust fight against igbos. SMH

Brendaniel:
It's like if you have not posted something about Peter Obi in a day, you will be very restless, Ngige is APC, worked for Buhari and Tinubu but you are here posting Obi's picture... chai!

wetin concern me about ur mini god... Na me say make e share food.... We'll continue to post him and u won't do anything about it

Ngige is a criminal and a heartless one for that matter.I have a friend that works in nsitf and the guy told me how ngige messed up the place with his criminalities.ngige is evil

nairalanda1:
I don't think you really want that, because it will strike close to home.

if they can do crime 😏 they can do jailed but efcc is not serious. Who take them serious? Each government 🐕 dogs with teeth. They have teeth 😬 only on media and Nigerian citizens.

This is chicken change compare to what he has looted...

Such stupid allegations. Every political elected or appointee always have associates. Even your president has associates whom he favours and give appointments and contracts to. This applies everywhere in this corrupt country. The question is whether those contract were executed or not. This is just a political witch-hunt by tinubu against Buhari's right hand men. But Tinubu should also know that power is transient. When an opposition northerner takes power, those under the Tinubu administration should better run out of this country.

So because he awarded contracts to a company, the federal government decides to accuse him of corruption by suggesting the company is owned by "an associate"!?

This is coning from a government riddled with ethnic and religious associates, whose stock in trade since 2023 is to concentrate contracts and projects in their South West region through their "associates"!?

Well, I trust Ngige. He is a tough nut. You guys are lucky his not that commanding with his politics in the national level. Dude is not easily bullied and is well capable of staring down any tribalist pretending to be fighting corruption..

Tinubu seem to be angry with him after he confronted Senator Smart Adeyemi over his association with Tinubu during his reconfirmation hearing or so , under Buharis regime

Judolisco:
wetin concern me about ur mini god... Na me say make e share food.... We'll continue to post him and u won't do anything about it

Na you dun turn am to your mini god now wey you no fit do without everyday...

I don't have any reason to doubt this news. The man ways no pure. And his pride/arrogance is on another level.

I don't think all these allegations are water tight. A good lawyer will white wash the prosecution. Associates one, associates two, associates three. It's not stated whether there's bidding or not which I know if there weren't it will be stated.

Was the said associates quotes competitive and are they qualified? Do they execute the contract?

Got money through campaign organization. Does the said amount falls within threshold given by law?

Let this not be another ceremonial prosecution o.

Let him prove his innocence in the court of law


I see the advantage of Buhari's death in this administration, all these people would have called him to talk to his successor. Everyone go answer his father's name

Monday0289:
Source: https://punchng.com/alleged-n2-2bn-fraud-efcc-arraigns-ex-labour-minister-ngige-today/?am

Watch as Tinubu supporters will attack Ngige but defend Tinubu for awarding the coastal road to a company his son is a board member🤣🤣
But Why is Tinubu going after Buhari ministers that did not support him😂

Steinmann:
CORRUPT POTS CALLING A CLEANER KETTLE BLACK
Why witch hunt ngige of all persons?
Why?

Why? Because he is CORRUPT in capitals.
Is that a good enough reason?

Distraction tactics.
What came out of all the previous arrests?
What of Yaya Bello and others?
Nonsense

This is the funniest charge sheet I have seen

Awarded contracts to associates?

How is it different from appointing associates to positions to settle them as it has been done by this government?

Whatever we did to nature to have punished us with this government at this time must be very grievous

While I don't support corrupt politicians in all they do to bring this country to it's knees, I however question the sincerity in the fight against corruption by this state institution which has become a tool in the hands of the government that appoints their heads to hunt down dissent voices.

Take a look at the recent arrests and prosecutions ongoing, former AGF Salami, and now former minister of Labour Ngige, hopefully with many others who disagrees with this government lined up to be bullied into submission to sing the evil "on your mandate" chorus.

One wouldn't have any problems if this fight is done holisticaly with the arrest, questioning and genuinely prosecutions of the criminal politicians from the past administration who looted the treasury and bring them to justice rather than this selective witch hunting of those perceived as political foes of Tinubu.

The one party state strategy adopted by Tinubu to hang on to power beyond 2027 is a dangerous tactics and can plunge this country into chaos. Let multi party democracy which we have practiced since 1999 thrive and let there be opposition which spices up democratic governance.