The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Gwarinpa, Abuja, on Thursday allowed former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, to continue on the administrative bail earlier granted him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Ruling on a bail application filed by Ngige’s legal team, the trial judge, Maryam Hassan, affirmed the subsisting bail but imposed additional conditions to secure the defendant’s continued appearance in court.
Justice Hassan ordered Ngige to produce a surety who must be a serving director in the Federal Government and an owner of landed property. The surety is required to deposit the title documents of the property, along with their travel documents, with the court pending Ngige’s retrieval of his international passport.
The court’s decision follows arguments by Ngige’s lead counsel, Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), urging the court to sustain the bail earlier granted by the anti-graft agency.
Ngige was initially released by the EFCC on self-recognition, with a directive to submit his travel documents and provide one surety. The court ruling effectively preserves that liberty, while tightening the conditions to ensure compliance with the ongoing trial.
