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EFCC Arraigns Ex-Minister Ngige Over Alleged ₦2bn Contract Fraud

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday arraigned a former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige, before Justice Mariam Hassan of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Gwarinpa, on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office and corrupt enrichment.

Ngige, a former governor of Anambra State, arrived at the court premises at about 8:10am in the company of EFCC operatives ahead of his formal arraignment.

In the charge marked FCT/HC/CR/726/2025, filed on December 9 and dated October 31, the former minister was listed as the sole defendant. The prosecution team was led by Sylvanus Tahir (SAN).

According to the EFCC, the alleged offences were committed during Ngige’s tenure as Minister of Labour under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, particularly in his capacity as the supervising minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund.

Alleged Contract Awards

In count one, the anti-graft agency accused the ex-minister of using his office between September 2015 and May 2023 to confer an “unfair advantage” on Cezimo Nigeria Limited, owned by Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles, described as his associate.
Ngige allegedly facilitated the award of seven consultancy, training, and supply contracts worth ₦366,470,920.68 to the firm.

Count two alleged that he used his position to similarly benefit Zitacom Nigeria Limited, owned by the same associate, by approving eight NSITF contracts valued at ₦583,682,686.

In count three, Ngige was accused of favouring Jeff & Xris Limited, owned by Nwosu Jideofor Chukwunwike, with eight contracts allegedly totalling ₦362,043,163.16.

Count four claimed he used his office to award four NSITF consultancy, training, and construction contracts to Olde English Consolidated Limited, linked to his associate, Uzoma Igbonwa, valued at ₦668,138,141.

Similarly, in count five, Ngige was alleged to have conferred an unfair advantage on Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited, also linked to Igbonwa, with four contracts worth ₦161,604,625.

The EFCC said the actions violated Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

Alleged Corrupt Gifts

In counts six to eight, the former minister was accused of receiving financial gifts totalling ₦119,783,000 from three firms that were contractors to NSITF:

₦38,650,000 from Cezimo Nigeria Ltd, paid into the Senator Chris Ngige Campaign Organisation account.

₦55,003,000 from Zitacom Nigeria Ltd, paid into the Senator Chris Ngige Scholarship Scheme account.

₦26,130,000 from Jeff & Xris Ltd, also channelled through the scholarship scheme.

The EFCC alleged that the payments were made while Ngige was performing his official duties as Minister of Labour and Employment—an offence said to contravene Section 17(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and punishable under Section 179(c) of the same Act.

The former minister is expected to take his plea when the matter is called.

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Crime & Court

Police Arrest Self-Styled PFIPC DG Hours After Court Orders His Arrest

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The police have arrested the self-styled Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi, hours after a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered his arrest for failing to appear for his arraignment.

Justice Mohammed Umar issued the warrant on Tuesday after granting an oral application by the prosecution counsel, Mr Wisdom Madaki, who informed the court that the defendant had failed to honour the court’s summons.

Adeyemi is facing an eight-count charge bordering on alleged forgery, fraud and impersonation.

According to the charge, the defendant allegedly held himself out as the Director-General of the PFIPC and is accused of offences involving forgery and fraudulent misrepresentation.

Following the prosecution’s application, Justice Umar ordered the defendant’s arrest to compel his appearance before the court to answer to the charges.

The police subsequently arrested Adeyemi, paving the way for his arraignment before the court.

Further details on the circumstances surrounding his arrest were not immediately available as of the time of filing this report.

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Crime & Court

NDLEA busts Oyo meth lab, arrests Mexican, four Nigerians

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has uncovered and dismantled a large methamphetamine production facility concealed inside a forest in Oyo State, arresting a suspected Mexican drug expert and four Nigerians in what officials described as a major breakthrough against an international drug trafficking syndicate.

The industrial-scale laboratory was discovered at Tapa Village in Ibarapa North Local Government Area during an operation conducted by NDLEA operatives on June 17.

Among those arrested was a 56-year-old Mexican national, Jose Villa Ochoa, who was allegedly recruited to provide technical expertise for the large-scale production of methamphetamine.
Four Nigerians identified as Maxwell Uche Nevoh, Olatunji Yusuf, Bankole Akeem Owolabi and Ganiu Monsiu were also apprehended during the raid.

The Chairman of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), said the clandestine facility was equipped with substantial quantities of precursor chemicals and industrial processing equipment used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

According to the agency, forensic analyses conducted at the site confirmed the presence of methamphetamine, while all recovered substances, chemicals and equipment had been secured as exhibits for further investigation and prosecution.

The discovery came barely four weeks after NDLEA operatives dismantled another large methamphetamine laboratory hidden in a forest in neighbouring Ogun State, heightening concerns over attempts by drug cartels to turn the South-West into a hub for synthetic drug production.

Marwa said the latest operation underscored the agency’s determination to dismantle transnational drug trafficking networks operating within Nigeria.

He warned both local and foreign drug syndicates against viewing the country as a safe destination for illicit drug activities.

“Let the message go out clearly to all drug cartels, domestic and international, that Nigeria is not, and will never be, a safe haven for your illicit trade,” Marwa said.

“We will find you in the cities, we will track you into the forests, and we will dismantle your infrastructure of death.

They thought hiding in dense forests would shield them from the long arm of the law. They were wrong.”

The NDLEA described the operation as another significant blow against organised drug trafficking networks and commended the officers involved in the raid for their professionalism, resilience and courage.

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Crime & Court

Police recover Rivers SUV stolen five years ago in Gombe

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Operatives of the Gombe State Police Command have recovered a Toyota Highlander reported stolen in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, five years ago.

The vehicle was recovered on June 8, 2026, during a routine verification exercise conducted by detectives attached to the State Intelligence Department in collaboration with officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps at the Gombe State Internal Revenue Service vehicle licensing office.

The spokesperson for the command, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday, saying the vehicle was flagged as suspicious during the process of uploading and verifying vehicle records.

According to him, the joint team identified the Toyota Highlander bearing registration number FH823PHC and subjected it to further scrutiny, which revealed that it had been declared stolen on September 17, 2021.

Preliminary findings showed that the vehicle belonged to one Cecilia A. Duru of Akwaka Lane, Rumuodumaya, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Abdullahi said investigators subsequently uncovered a transnational movement of the vehicle, establishing that it was taken to the Niger Republic in 2023 before returning to Nigeria through Illela Local Government Area of Sokoto State on October 17, 2025.

He added that the sport utility vehicle was later sold in Kaduna State and eventually brought to Gombe for re-registration, where it was detected and recovered by security operatives.

“Investigation is ongoing, as efforts are being intensified to identify and apprehend those involved,” the police spokesperson stated.

He urged members of the public to exercise caution when purchasing vehicles, advising intending buyers to verify ownership documents and authenticate vehicle records through the appropriate authorities before concluding any transaction.

The command reaffirmed its commitment to combating vehicle theft and other trans-border crimes, assuring residents that efforts were underway to arrest all those linked to the theft and illegal trafficking of the recovered vehicle.

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