On Thursday, December 18, 2025, a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, sitting in Gwarinpa, Abuja, granted bail to former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Senator Chris Ngige, in the ongoing corruption case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The ruling was delivered by Justice Maryam Hassan, who adopted the conditions of the administrative bail earlier granted to Ngige by the EFCC, while imposing additional safeguards to ensure compliance.
Ngige, a former Governor of Anambra State and ex-Minister of Labour and Employment under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, has been facing an eight-count corruption charge alleging fraud and abuse of office involving approximately ₦2.2 billion. The charges, filed by the EFCC on December 9, 2025, relate to alleged unlawful contract awards and acceptance of monetary gifts from contractors during his ministerial tenure. He has pleaded not guilty to all counts.
Prior to the bail ruling, Ngige spent approximately six days in detention at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, having been remanded by the court on December 12 following his arraignment. The remand order was issued after the prosecution opposed his initial bail application, and the matter was adjourned for ruling on the application on December 18.
In Thursday’s ruling, Justice Hassan held that the court would uphold the administrative bail previously granted by the EFCC but emphasised that conditions attached to it must not be so onerous as to effectively deny bail, noting that “bail conditions must not be unreasonable” and that excessive conditions are akin to refusing bail altogether.
As part of the bail terms, Ngige was directed to produce one surety who must be a serving Director in the Federal Civil Service. The court further stipulated that the surety must own landed property in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and must submit both the title documents of the property and his travel documents to the court registry. Ngige himself was also ordered to surrender his international passport — or, in the event of obtaining a new one, to submit it to the court.
The judge’s decision to retain and augment the administrative bail conditions reflects an effort to balance the presumption of innocence and constitutional bail rights with concerns about ensuring that Ngige remains within the jurisdiction to face trial. The prosecution had urged the court to refuse bail, citing alleged breaches of previous administrative bail terms by Ngige, including issues surrounding the return of his passport.
Following the bail ruling, Justice Hassan adjourned the trial to January 28 and 29, 2026, when proceedings on the substantive charges are expected to commence.
Ngige’s bail represents a significant development in a high-profile corruption prosecution involving a senior political figure. The case continues to attract national attention, as it highlights ongoing efforts by Nigerian authorities to tackle alleged corruption within public office, as well as the challenges of balancing legal process with constitutional rights in politically sensitive trials.
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