The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will, on Friday (today), arraign former labour minister Chris Ngige on a charge bordering on alleged corruption. Mr Ngige, who was also a former governor of Anambra, would be arraigned at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Gwarimpa Division.

In the eight-count charge, marked: FCT/HC/CR/726/2025, the former minister was the sole defendant. In the charge dated October 31 and filed on December 9 by a team of lawyers, led by Sylvanus Tahir, Mr Ngige was alleged to have committed the offences while serving under then-President Muhammadu Buhari.

In count one, the defendant was alleged to have, between September 2015 and May 2023, while being the supervising minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, used his position to confer an unfair advantage upon Cezimo Nigeria Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles, is his associate. The NSITF was said to have awarded seven contracts for consultancy, training, and supply to the said company, totalling N366,470,920.68.

In count two, the defendant was alleged to have, while serving as the supervising minister of NSITF, used his position to confer an unfair advantage upon Zitacom Nigeria Limited, a company whose MD/CEO, Mr Charles, is his associate. Mr Ngige was alleged to have awarded eight contracts for supply, training, and consultancy with NSITF to the company, totalling N583,682,686.

Count three accused Mr Ngige of using his position to confer an unfair advantage upon Jeff & Xris Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Nwosu Jideofor Chukwunwike, is his associate, by the award of eight different contracts for consultancy, training and supplies with NSITF to the said company to the tune of N362,043,163.16.

In count four, Mr Ngige allegedly used his position to confer an unfair advantage upon Olde English Consolidated Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Uzoma Igbonwa, is his associate. He was accused of awarding four separate contracts for consultancy, training, and construction by NSITF to the said company, to the tune of N668,138,141.

In count five, the ex-minister was alleged to have used his position to confer unfair advantage upon Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited, a company whose MD/CEO, Mr Igbonwa, is his associate. Mr Ngige allegedly awarded four contracts by NSITF to the said company for consultancy, training, and supply, totalling N161,604,625.

In count six, Mr Ngige was alleged to have corruptly accepted a gift to the tune of N38,650,000, through his “organisation called Senator (Dr) Chris Nwabueze Ngige Campaign Organisation from Cezimo Nigeria Limited (Zenith Bank Account Number 1011901119), a contractor with NSITF, while performing your official act as honourable minister of labour and employment”.

In count seven, Mr Ngige was alleged to have, while serving as minister between September 2015 and May 2023, corruptly accepted a gift of N55,003,000. The “gift” was received through his ‘Senator (Dr) Chris Ngige Scholarship Scheme from Zitacom Nigeria Limited (Zenith Bank Account Number 1017263219)’, a contractor of NSITF.

Also in count eight, Mr Ngige was alleged to have corruptly accepted a gift, to the tune of N26,130,000, through the ‘Senator (Dr) Chris Ngige Scholarship Scheme’. The money was received from Jeff & Xris Limited (Zenith Bank Account Number 1011533930), a contractor of NSITF.

(NAN)