Justice Maryam Hassan of the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to the former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige, in his ongoing N2.2 billion contract fraud trial.
Ngige, who served as minister from 2015 to 2023, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). In her ruling on Thursday, December 18, 2025, Justice Hassan adopted the terms of his previous administrative bail but added several strict requirements.
Bail Conditions:
- One Surety: Must be a Director on the federal government payroll.
- Property: The surety must own a property within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
- Documents: Ngige must surrender all travel documents to the court.
Justice Hassan emphasized that while bail is at the court’s discretion, the conditions must not be “unreasonable and stringent.” She further noted that judicial powers “must not be exercised arbitrarily.”
The court has adjourned the matter until January 28 and 29, 2026, for the commencement of the trial.
