By Peter Omopo
The Federal High Court sitting in Gwaripa, Abuja, has granted bail to former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige, in the ongoing corruption case instituted against him.
Justice Maryam Hassan, who delivered the ruling, adopted the terms of the administrative bail earlier granted to Ngige by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The court, however, added additional conditions to secure his release.
According to the ruling, Ngige is to produce one surety who must be a director on the federal government payroll and also own a property within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The court further ordered the former minister to deposit his travel documents with the court.
Justice Hassan noted that the grant of bail is at the discretion of the court and stressed that bail conditions must not be unreasonable or excessively stringent. She added that judicial powers must be exercised judiciously and not arbitrarily.
The trial judge subsequently adjourned the matter to January 28 and 29, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
The court had earlier reserved ruling on the bail application until December 18 after Ngige’s counsel applied for bail, arguing that his client was not a flight risk. The lawyer informed the court that Ngige had previously enjoyed administrative bail granted by the EFCC before his recent arrest.
Counsel also disclosed that while on administrative bail, the former minister was permitted by the anti-graft agency to travel to the United Kingdom for medical treatment, during which his international passport was temporarily released to him.
The case continues.
