By Sabiu Abdullahi
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting at Gwarimpa, Abuja, has ordered that former Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige, remain in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre until December 18.
Justice Maryam Aliyu Hassan gave the order on Monday, directing that Ngige be kept in prison pending the determination of his bail application.
The court took arguments from both parties on the bail request before issuing the remand order. Justice Hassan fixed December 18 as the date to deliver a ruling on the application.
Counsel to the former minister, Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, urged the court to grant bail, citing health concerns. He assured the court that Ngige would not evade trial or interfere with witnesses if released.
In response, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, opposed the request. The anti-graft agency was represented by Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, who described Ngige as a flight risk.
Tahir informed the court that the EFCC had earlier granted Ngige administrative bail and allowed him to travel abroad for medical treatment. He said the former minister failed to report back to the Commission after the trip.
He also stated that the international passport released to Ngige to facilitate the travel had not been returned. According to him, it was only after Ngige was re-arrested that he claimed the passport was lost.
The senior lawyer argued that the claim of a missing passport was an afterthought and urged the court not to accept it.
Ngige was last Friday arraigned on an eight-count charge related to alleged corrupt practices.