Nigeria’s former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige has been remanded in Kuje prison by a High Court in Abuja on Friday over allegations of corruption and abuse of office.
Justice Maryam Hassan gave the remand order after the erstwhile minister pleaded not guilty to an eight-count charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) preferred against him.
The court ordered that he should remain in detention till Monday, when his bail application will be heard.
Ngige, who was in office as a minister from November 11, 2015, to May 29, 2023, is facing trial over his alleged complicity in contract fraud totalling over N2.2 billion.
Part of the charge against him bordered on abuse of office, as well as the allegation that he accepted kickbacks from firms that were awarded contracts by the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF.
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