Get Guardian on GoogleA prosecution witness in the trial of former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, over alleged N2.26bn contract fraud, has told the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, 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 witness, Onwusoro Maduka Iheamelam, a Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, disclosed this on Thursday while testifying as the third prosecution witness in the case before Justice M.A. Hassan.
During cross-examination by Ngige’s counsel, P.I.N. Ikwueto, SAN, Iheamelam said he was a member of the presidential investigative panel established to investigate the activities of the NSITF under the former minister’s supervision.
He told the court that he received a presidential directive to implement decisions taken by the President following the panel’s findings, including those relating to the procurement functions and other activities of the NSITF.
The proceedings also featured an exchange between the prosecution and defence over access to the witness’s statements.
Ikwueto requested the original copies of the witness’s statements for examination, but prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, objected, arguing that the defence should formally apply for Certified True Copies (CTCs) if it wished to obtain the documents.
Ngige is facing an eight-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office and fraudulent contract awards valued at N2,261,722,535.84 during his tenure as Minister of Labour and Employment and supervision of the NSITF.
The EFCC alleges that the former minister abused his office in connection with the award of contracts by the agency.
Justice Hassan adjourned the case until February 9, 10 and 11, 2027, for continuation of trial.
