A former media aide to ex-Minister of Labour and Productivity and former Anambra State Governor, Chris Ngige, has claimed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may charge his former boss to court following his arrest in Abuja on Tuesday.
In a statement posted on Facebook on Thursday, December 11, Ngige’s former media aide, Fred Chukwuelobe, alleged that about 20 EFCC operatives from the commission’s Wuse II Zonal Office stormed the former minister’s residence on Justice Mohammed Bello Road, Asokoro, in what he described as a “commando-style raid.”
“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will possibly today charge the immediate past Minister of Labour and Productivity and former Anambra State Governor, Chris Ngige, to court,” Chukwuelobe said.
“Dr. Ngige was yesterday whisked away from his residence in Abuja by about 20 EFCC officers from its Zonal office, Wuse II, Abuja, in what a family member described as ‘commando-style raid.’ He was not allowed to change his clothes and was taken away still wearing his pyjamas.”
Chukwuelobe stated that Ngige had previously been placed on administrative bail after responding to an EFCC invitation, during which he was questioned for unspecified reasons.
He said the former minister had complied with all conditions, including the surrender of his travel documents.
According to Chukwuelobe, Ngige recently embarked on a medical trip abroad but was forced to abort it after losing his passport.
“He embarked on a medical trip to the United States, but on getting to the United Kingdom en route, he lost his passport and had to abort the trip and return to Nigeria.
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“He secured travel documents from the Nigeria High Commission in the UK with which he was able to travel back to Abuja,” the statement read.
The aide added that Ngige had drafted a letter to inform the EFCC about the lost documents and his inability to return them immediately but had not yet delivered it before the arrest.
“Dr. Ngige is said to have expressed surprise at his arrest when he had not violated the terms of his administrative bail and had cooperated with the agency in its statutory duties,” Chukwuelobe said.
“It was gathered that he will be charged to court, which will now hear arguments from his lawyers and possibly grant him bail,” he added.
As of Thursday, the EFCC had not released any official statement on the reported arrest, raid, or possible charges against Ngige.
Chris Ngige served as Minister of Labour and Productivity under former President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2023 and was previously the Governor of Anambra State between 2003 and 2006.
His reported arrest adds to a growing list of EFCC investigations involving former high-ranking government officials.