‎Former Minister of Labour Ngigi to be Arraigned in Court Friday

Anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has filed an eight-count charge against the former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige.
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‎The charge reports indicates that the former Anambra State governor will be arraigned on Friday (today) at the FCT High Court in Gwarimpa, Abuja.
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‎In the charge report dated 31 October and filed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Sylvanus Tahir and five other lawyers on behalf of the EFCC, the anti-graft agency alleged that Ngige used his position as a former minister to confer undue advantage by awarding different contracts to his associates and to companies believed to be owned by him.
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‎It was further stated that in Count 1, the former minister, between September 2015 and May 2023, while being the supervising Minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), used his position to confer an unfair advantage upon Cezimo Nigeria Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles, is believed to be his associate.
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‎Ngige allegedly awarded seven different contracts for consultancy, training, and supply by the NSITF to the said company to the tune of N366,470,920.68, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
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‎Meanwhile, other companies mentioned in the charge are: Zitacom Nigeria Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles, was awarded eight different contracts for supply, training, and consultancy with the NSITF to the tune of N583,682,686.00; and Jeff & Xris Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Nwosu Jideofor Chukwunwike, also got eight different contracts to the tune of N362,043,163.16.
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‎The rest are: Olde English Consolidated Limited, a company whose MD/CEO, Uzoma Igbonwa, got the award of four different contracts for consultancy, training, and construction by the NSITF to the tune of N668,138,141.00; and Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Uzoma Igbonwa, got the award of four different contracts to the tune of N161,604,625.00.
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‎Newsbuka reported that Ngige was arrested in Abuja on Wednesday night and has since been in the custody of the EFCC.