Chris Ngige Hits APC Caucus Floor Immediately After Bail Approval [Video]

Former Labour Minister, Chris Ngige, attended the All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus meeting on Thursday, just hours after securing bail from the Federal High Court in Gwaripa, Abuja, in connection with an alleged ₦2.2 billion contract fraud.

Ngige, who previously served as Governor of Anambra State, was captured in videos circulating online arriving at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, for the meeting.

Justice Maryam Hassan granted Ngige bail, adopting the terms of the administrative bail previously approved by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The court required him to present one surety who is a federal government director with property in the FCT and to submit his travel documents. The judge emphasized that bail conditions must be reasonable and not arbitrary, and adjourned the trial to January 28–29, 2026.

Ngige was arraigned last Friday on eight counts of abuse of office and contract fraud linked to his oversight of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF). He pleaded not guilty and was remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre pending his bail application.

The charges allege that Ngige accepted kickbacks from companies awarded NSITF contracts and improperly influenced contract awards to benefit associates, violations punishable under the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

The EFCC, led by Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, opposed the bail application, urging the court to deny it.