- The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to former Labor and Productivity Minister Chris Ngige, who is on trial for £2.2 billion contract fraud.
- Judge Maryam Hassan upheld the terms of Ngige’s previous administrative bail but imposed additional conditions including a federal director-level surety, ownership of property within the FCT and the surrender of all travel documents.
- The case has been adjourned to January 28-29, 2026.
Justice Maryam Hassan of the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to former Labor and Productivity Minister Chris Ngige, who is facing trial for N2.2 billion contract fraud.
Ngige, who served as minister from 2015 to 2023, is currently being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). In his ruling on Thursday, December 18, 2025, Judge Hassan adopted the previous administrative bail terms but added several strict requirements.
Bail conditions:
- One sponsor: Must be a director on the federal government payroll.
- Property: The sponsor must own property within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
- Documents: Ngige must turn over all travel documents to the court.
Judge Hassan stressed that while bail was at the discretion of the court, the conditions must not be “unreasonable and stringent”. She further stated that judicial power “may not be exercised arbitrarily”.
The court has adjourned the matter to January 28-29, 2026.
In other news,… A Nigerian man shared a viral video on X via user @Teniola describing the difficult reality of starting over in the UK after leaving a senior job in Nigeria.
The man revealed that at home, he works as “Head of Department (HOD),” a senior position that provides him with comfort and flexibility in his day-to-day work. He explains that he rarely has to wake up early because his position is well structured and easy to manage.
After moving abroad, his life changed dramatically. He revealed he now has to return to work as early as “4:30am”, a schedule he described as exhausting and difficult to adapt to. He noted that many relocating Nigerians often face the harsh reality of accepting demanding jobs and working their way up from the bottom again.
The story sparked huge debate online. Many Nigerians living abroad agree with him, noting that while they may make more money, the “workload, long hours and lifestyle adjustments” may be completely overwhelming compared to their lives in Nigeria.
