EFCC Files Eight-Count Charge Against Ngige, Ex-Minister to be Arraigned Friday

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has officially filed an eight-count charge against the former Minister of Labour and Productivity and ex-Anambra State Governor, Chris Ngige, following his arrest earlier this week.

Dependable NG reports that the charge sheet indicates the former minister is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday at the FCT High Court in Gwarimpa, Abuja.

The charge, dated October 31 and filed by a legal team led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Sylvanus Tahir, accuses Ngige of using his position as a supervising minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) to confer undue advantage. The anti-graft agency alleges this was done by awarding numerous contracts to associates and companies believed to be owned by him between September 2015 and May 2023.

Specifically, Count 1 of the charge details that the former minister allegedly approved seven different contracts for consultancy, training, and supply from the NSITF to a company identified as Cezimo Nigeria Limited, to the tune of N366,470,920.68. The company’s MD/CEO and alter ego, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles, is believed to be Ngige’s associate. This action is alleged to be an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

Other companies listed in the charge that allegedly benefited from contract awards include Zitacom Nigeria Limited, which received eight contracts for supply, training, and consultancy worth N583,682,686.00, and Jeff & Xris Limited, which secured eight contracts valued at N362,043,163.16. Additionally, Olde English Consolidated Limited was awarded four different contracts for construction, training, and consultancy totaling N668,138,141.00, and Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited received four contracts worth N161,604,625.00.

The filing of these charges comes swiftly after Ngige’s arrest on Wednesday night, a development his former media aide confirmed, dispelling rumors that the ex-governor had been kidnapped.