The Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Gwarinpa, Abuja, has ruled that former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, should remain on the administrative bail earlier granted to him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), but with tougher conditions.
Justice Maryam Hassan gave the ruling on Thursday while considering a bail application filed on Ngige’s behalf and argued by his lead counsel, Patrick Ikwueto (SAN).
In her decision, the judge ordered Ngige to present a surety who must be a serving director in the Federal Government and the owner of a landed property. The court further directed that the surety deposit the title documents of the property, alongside his travel documents, with the court.
Justice Hassan explained that the measures would remain in place pending the retrieval of Ngige’s international passport, which had earlier been surrendered to the EFCC as part of his administrative bail conditions.
Ngige was initially granted bail by the EFCC on self-recognition, with an order to submit his travel documents and produce one surety.
The court’s ruling effectively sustains the EFCC bail while tightening oversight to ensure the former minister’s continued availability for the proceedings.
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