The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has formally filed an eight-count corruption charge against former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Senator Chris Ngige, accusing him of fraudulent contract awards totaling approximately โฆ2.1 billion during his tenure.
The ex-minister is scheduled to be arraigned before the FCT High Court in Gwarinpa, Abuja, on Friday.
According to the charge sheet obtained by journalists, the anti-graft agency alleges that Ngige, while serving as the supervising Minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) between September 2015 and May 2023, abused his office to confer undue advantages on several companies linked to his close associates.
The EFCC, represented by a team of lawyers led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Sylvanus Tahir, claims these companies served as fronts through which public funds were diverted.
The charges detail a pattern of awards to five specific companies. The first count alleges that Ngige favored Cezimo Nigeria Limited, whose Managing Director is Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles, described as his associate, with seven different NSITF contracts for consultancy, training, and supply valued at โฆ366.4 million.
Further counts involve Zitacom Nigeria Limited, also linked to Charles, which allegedly received eight contracts worth โฆ583.6 million.
Additional companies named are Jeff & Xris Limited (โฆ362 million), Olde English Consolidated Limited (โฆ668.1 million), and Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited (โฆ161.6 million), with the last two connected to an individual named Uzoma Igbonwa.
The cumulative value of the contracts listed across the charges amounts to roughly โฆ2.14 billion.
The EFCC contends that these actions violate Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000. This legal move follows Ngigeโs earlier detention by the commission, which his aide had previously clarified was not a case of kidnapping.
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