By TAIYE AGBAJE

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will, on Friday, arraigned Mr Chris Ngige, the former Minister of Labour and Employment, on a charge bordering on alleged corruption, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Ngige, who was also a former Governor of Anambra, would be arraigned at a Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting at Gwarimpa in Abuja.

In the eight-count charge, marked: FCT/HC/CR/726/2025, the former minister was the sole defendant.

In the charge dated Oct. 31 and filed on Dec. 9 by a team of lawyers, led by Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, Ngige was alleged to have committed the offences while serving as Minister of Labour under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.

In count one the defendant was alleged to have between September 2015 to May 2023, while being the supervising Minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), 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.

Ngige was said to have awarded seven different contracts for consultancy, training and supply by the NSITF to the said company to the tune of N366,470,920.68 (Three Hundred and Sixty-Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Nine Hundred and Twenty Naira and Sixty Eight Kobo).

In count two, the defendant was alleged to have while being the supervising Minister of NSITF, used his position to confer an unfair advantage upon Zitacom Nigeria Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles is his associate.

Ngige was merged to have awarded eight different contracts for supply, training and consultancy, with NSITF, to the said company to the tune of N583,682,686.00 (Five Hundred and Eighty-Three Million, Six Hundred and Eighty-Two Thousand, Six Hundred and Eighty-Six Naira) only.

Count three accused 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 (Three Hundred and Sixty Two Million, Forty Three Thousand, One Hundred and Sixty Three Naira and Sixteen Kobo) only.

In count four, he was allegedly to have 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 different contracts for consultancy, training and construction by NSITF to the said company to the tune of N668,138,141.00 (Six Hundred and Sixty-Eight Million, One Hundred and Thirty-Eight Thousand, One Hundred and Forty-One Naira) only.

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 and alter ego, Uzoma Igbonwa is his associate.

Ngige was said to have awarded four different contracts by NSITF to the said company for consultancy, training and supply to the tune of N161,604,625.00 (One Hundred and Sixty-One Million, Six Hundred and Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Twenty-Five Naira) only.

The offences were contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

In count six, the defendant was alleged to have corruptly accepted a gift to the tune of N38, 650,000 (Thirty-Eight Million, Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) only, 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, Ngige was alleged to have, while being the minister between September 2015 to May 2023, did corruptly accept a gift, to the tune of N55,003,000 (Fifty-Five Million, Three Thousand Naira) only.

The “gift” was received through his organisation called “Senator (Dr) Chris Ngige Scholarship Scheme from Zitacom Nigeria Limited (Zenith Bank Account Number 1017263219), a contractor NSITF, while performing your official act as Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment.”

Also in count eight, the former minister was allegedly to have corruptly accepted a gift, to the tune of N26,130,000 (Twenty-Six Million, One Hundred and Thirty Thousand Naira) only, through his organisation called Senator (Dr) Chris Ngige Scholarship Scheme.

The money was received from Jeff & Xris Limited (Zenith Bank Account Number 1011533930), a contractor with NSITF, while performing his official act as Minister of Labour and Employment.

The offences were contrary to Section 17(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under section 179(c) of the same Act. (NAN)

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