A new report has emerged that former Anambra State governor and ex-minister of labour, Senator Chris Ngige, made a surprise appearance at the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock, on Thursday, just hours after securing his release from Kuje Correctional Centre, to attend the All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus meeting.
Ngige, who was recently remanded in custody over corruption allegations brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), arrived at the State House Conference Centre after President Bola Tinubu had already taken his seat. He was briefly stopped by security personnel before being cleared to join other party leaders.
His appearance drew cheers from some presidential aides and party officials, underscoring the political significance of his attendance so soon after his release.
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Alleged N2.2bn fraud: Court grants Ngige bail
The former governor had been granted bail earlier in the day after fulfilling the conditions set by the court, following several days in detention at Kuje prison. Ngige was remanded last week after his arraignment on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged corrupt practices involving more than ₦2.2 billion.
The charges, filed by the EFCC, stem from allegations that Ngige, while overseeing the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), improperly awarded contracts to companies linked to his associates and received unlawful gratifications.
At a hearing before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Gwarimpa on Monday, Ngige’s counsel, Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, urged the court to grant bail on health grounds. He argued that the former minister posed no flight risk and would not interfere with witnesses or obstruct the trial.
However, the EFCC opposed the application. Prosecuting counsel Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, told the court that Ngige should not be trusted with bail, describing him as a flight risk. Tahir alleged that the former minister had previously been granted administrative bail to travel abroad for medical treatment but failed to return as required.
He further told the court that Ngige’s international passport, which had been released to facilitate the trip, was never returned to the commission, and that claims it had been lost only emerged after his re-arrest. The prosecution described the explanation as an afterthought and urged the court to dismiss the bail application.
Justice Maryam Hassan adjourned the case to 18 December for a ruling on the bail request and initially ordered Ngige to remain in custody pending the decision. His subsequent release followed compliance with bail conditions granted later.
Ngige’s attendance at the APC caucus meeting has sparked debate within political circles, with critics questioning the optics of a senior party figure facing serious corruption charges appearing at a high-level government gathering so soon after leaving detention.
Neither the APC nor Ngige has formally commented on his presence at the meeting. Meanwhile, the EFCC says it remains committed to prosecuting the case to its conclusion.
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