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₦2.2BN CONTRACT SCAM: Technical Tug-of-War as Court Defers Ruling on Ngige’s Defence Documents to October
Loading …ABUJA — The ₦2.2 billion corruption trial of former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, hit a procedural roadblock at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Gwarimpa on Thursday, July 2, 2026.
The legal impasse triggered an extended adjournment after a sharp dispute erupted between the prosecution and defence teams over the legal admissibility of uncertified documents introduced during a high-stakes cross-examination session.
The Legal Clash Over Evidence Certification
The courtroom tension flared while the lead defence counsel, Patrick I.N. Ikwueto (SAN), was cross-examining the third prosecution witness (PW3), Onwusoro Maduka Iheamelam—a key member of the panel that investigated the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).
When the witness requested to see historical records from 2021 and 2022 to refresh his memory, Ikwueto moved to formally tender the documents. The move was immediately blocked by EFCC lead prosecutor, Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), who launched a technical objection rooted in statutory compliance:
“My lord, the basis of our objection with respect to the documents sought to be tendered is that they violently offend the provision of Section 104 of the Evidence Act 2011.”
— Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), EFCC Lead Prosecutor
Tahir maintained that because the defence documents were public records but lacked valid Certified True Copy (CTC) stamps, they were legally dead on arrival and could not be admitted into the court’s formal record.
Inside the ₦2.2 Billion NSITF Contract Splitting Charge
Ngige, a former Governor of Anambra State, is facing an eight-count criminal charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The anti-graft agency alleges that during his tenure as supervising minister, he systematically abused his office by awarding bloated, non-competitive contracts to companies closely linked to his political and personal associates.
| Key Contractor Linked to Charges | Core Procurement Allegations |
| Zitacom Nigeria Limited | Allegedly awarded eight separate contracts for supply, IT training, and consultancy by the NSITF to the tune of ₦583,682,686.00. |
| Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services | Secured multiple contentious consultancy and stakeholder safety engagement contracts totaling ₦161,604,625.00. |
Under cross-examination, the witness, CP Iheamelam, confirmed he was aware of both firms and verified that they had secured multiple contracts under the NSITF structure.
“Behind-the-Scene Interference” Exposed
The trial took an intriguing turn when Ikwueto questioned the witness about the independence of the panel that blew the whistle on the NSITF procurement irregularities.
While the witness stated he was never a member or secretary of the formal Parastatals Tenders Board (PTB), he dropped a significant hint regarding the political atmosphere surrounding the probe. He affirmed that while his investigative panel faced no overt, open interference while writing its recommendations, “there may have been some interferences behind the scene.”
A Four-Month Intermission
Faced with complex arguments regarding the admissibility of uncertified evidence under Section 104 of the Evidence Act, Justice M.A. Hassan opted to defer his decision to allow for a thorough judicial review.
The court adjourned the matter until October 14, 2026, for a definitive ruling on the documents, with further trial continuations slated for November 11 and 12, 2026. Until then, the multi-billion Naira prosecution of the former cabinet member remains on pause.
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