Ngige’s N2.26bn Fraud Trial: Witness Testifies On Presidential Panel’s Directives
A prosecution witness in the alleged N2.26 billion fraud trial of former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has told an Abuja court that he received presidential directives to implement decisions arising from an investigative panel set up to examine the activities of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, November 12, 2026, following the resumed proceedings before Justice M.A. Hassan of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja.
The witness, Onwusoro Maduka Iheamelam, a Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, testified as the prosecution’s third witness, PW3.
During cross-examination by defence counsel, P.I.N. Ikwueto, SAN, Iheamelam told the court that he was a member of the presidential investigative panel established to probe the activities of the NSITF under Ngige’s supervision.
He said he received a presidential directive to implement the President’s decisions arising from the panel’s findings, including directives relating to the procurement functions and other activities of the NSITF during the period under investigation.
The proceedings also featured an exchange between the prosecution and defence over access to the witness’s statements.
Defence counsel requested that the prosecution produce the original copies of the witness’s statements for examination.
However, prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, objected, arguing that the defence should formally apply for Certified True Copies (CTCs) of the documents if it wished to obtain them.
Ngige is facing an eight-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office and fraudulent contract awards involving NSITF contracts valued at N2,261,722,535.84.
The charges relate to contracts allegedly awarded during his tenure as Minister of Labour and Employment and his supervision of the NSITF.
Justice Hassan adjourned the case until February 9, 10 and 11, 2027, for continuation of trial.
