The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, December 15, 2025, opposed an application for bail filed by former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, following his arraignment before Justice M.A. Hassan of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Gwarimpa, Abuja.

Counsel to the prosecution, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, urged the court to exercise caution in considering the bail request, arguing that Ngige had previously violated the conditions of an administrative bail granted by the EFCC.

Tahir told the court that the defendant failed to return his international passport after being permitted to travel abroad for medical reasons. According to the prosecution, Ngige had undertaken to return the passport by November 19, 2025, but did not do so until he was subsequently arrested by the commission.

“He made an undertaking to return the passport on November 19, 2025,” Tahir said. “The defendant claimed he could not obtain an affidavit of loss in the United Kingdom, yet chose to return to Nigeria to depose an affidavit. What stopped him from obtaining a police report in London?”

He further argued that the defendant’s actions amounted to a gross breach of the terms of his administrative bail and were in violation of Section 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.

“What we are saying, my Lord, is that the defendant is in gross breach of the administrative bail granted by the EFCC,” Tahir said. “Now he is asking this court to grant him bail under similar terms. The totality of this case calls for extreme caution. We urge the court to refuse the application and order an accelerated trial.”

In response, defence counsel Patrick Ikweato, SAN, urged the court to grant Ngige bail, stating that all necessary arguments had been set out in the written application before the court.

“I respectfully urge my Lord to admit the defendant to bail. The grounds are clearly stated in our application, and we rely on all the processes filed,” Ikweato said.

Justice Hassan adjourned the matter to Thursday, December 18, 2025, for ruling on the bail application.

Ngige was arraigned on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged contract fraud and the acceptance of gifts valued at ₦2,261,722,535.84 (Two Billion, Two Hundred and Sixty-One Million, Seven Hundred and Twenty-Two Thousand, Five Hundred and Thirty-Five Naira, Eighty-Four Kobo).