The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Gwarinpa, Abuja, has fixed October 14, 2026, to rule on the admissibility of disputed documents tendered by the defence in the ongoing N2.2 billion fraud trial of former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige.
The presiding judge, Justice M.A. Hassan, adjourned the matter following arguments from both the prosecution and defence counsel regarding the contested evidence. In addition to the October ruling, Justice Hassan scheduled November 11 and 12, 2026, for the continuation of the cross-examination of the third prosecution witness (PW3).
During the recent proceedings, the defence team, led by Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), sought to tender specific documents to bolster their case. However, the prosecution counsel, representing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), raised strong objections to the admissibility of the documents, prompting the court to defer its decision.
Justice Hassan noted that the ruling on whether or not to admit the controversial documents into evidence will take precedence when the court reconvenes after the annual recess.
Dr. Chris Ngige, a former Governor of Anambra State and medical doctor, is facing an eight-count charge bordering on alleged irregularities in procurement processes during his tenure as Minister.
Charges also include alleged manipulation of contracts tied to the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), a parastatal under his direct supervision between 2015 and 2023 and allegations of receiving kickbacks through associated companies and political organisations.
The EFCC maintains that the former minister bypassed statutory procurement guidelines, specifically those regulated by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), to award inflated contracts to cronies. Ngige has consistently maintained his innocence, pleading “not guilty” to all counts, with his defence team arguing that his actions were backed by presidential directives.
The legal battle is set to intensify in the final quarter of the year. The court’s decision on October 14 regarding the disputed documents will likely shape the trajectory of the trial before the intensive cross-examination of the EFCC’s third witness resumes in mid-November.
