The Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Gwarinpa, Abuja, has retained the administrative bail earlier granted to former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, while imposing stricter conditions for its continuation.
The court, presided over by Justice Maryam Hassan, gave the ruling on Thursday while deciding a bail application filed on behalf of Ngige by his lead counsel, Patrick Ikwueto, SAN.
Justice Hassan held that the former minister could continue to enjoy the EFCC bail earlier granted on self recognition, but must now comply with additional conditions set by the court.
In her ruling, the judge ordered Ngige to produce a surety who must be a serving director in the employment of the Federal Government. The surety, according to the court, must also own a landed property and deposit the title documents of the property with the court.
Justice Hassan further directed that the surety’s travel documents be deposited with the court pending the time Ngige retrieves his own international passport.
The court noted that the EFCC had earlier granted Ngige bail on self recognition and directed him to submit his travel documents to the commission, in addition to providing one surety.
However, the court held that the conditions needed to be reinforced to ensure Ngige’s availability for trial and full compliance with the judicial process.
Justice Hassan stressed that the new conditions were not punitive but necessary to safeguard the integrity of the proceedings and guarantee that the defendant remains within the jurisdiction of the court.
Ngige, a former governor of Anambra State and former minister under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, is facing investigation by the EFCC over allegations yet to be fully disclosed in court.
The matter has been adjourned, with the court directing that all bail conditions must be perfected within the stipulated time frame.
More details are expected as the case progresses.
