EFCC Witness Testifies in Corruption Case Against Former Minister Chris Ngige

The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Mirian Hassan, recently continued proceedings in the corruption case involving former Minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity, Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige. The trial centers on allegations of corruption and favoritism regarding the awarding of contracts during the former minister’s tenure and his oversight of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).

Testimony from the Procurement Director

During the latest hearing, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) presented Dr. Maduka Onwusoro, who served as the Director of Procurement between 2019 and 2023, as a prosecution witness. Under cross-examination by defense counsel Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, Onwusoro addressed the procedural handling of NSITF contracts.

When questioned about the existence of presidential approvals for these contracts, Onwusoro stated that while he was aware of such approvals through hearsay, he had never personally seen the documentation. He testified that his actions were performed under the direction of the minister, routed through the office of the Permanent Secretary.

Discrepancies in Administrative Procedures

The defense counsel presented several documents to the witness, including a letter authored by Onwusoro that directed the Managing Director of the NSITF to transfer all procurement activities to his office and to redeploy departmental staff. Onwusoro maintained that he was acting on oral directives from the Permanent Secretary, though he noted that he could not recall the name of the individual holding that position at the time.

Furthermore, when shown an internal memo from the minister to the Permanent Secretary regarding “secret” presidential approvals, the witness claimed he had never seen the document. The defense also highlighted Onwusoro’s role as a member of the Presidential panel tasked with investigating procurement, financial, and administrative breaches within the NSITF.

• Onwusoro admitted to being a member of the presidential panel.
• He confirmed that the panel recommended moving procurement functions from the NSITF to the Ministry.
• He denied serving as the chairman of said panel.

When confronted with a Certified True Copy (CTC) of a letter from the Chief of Staff to the then-President, which conveyed approval for the panel’s recommendations, the witness stated he was viewing the document for the first time. When asked why he did not verify these directives with the Permanent Secretary’s office as a senior public servant, Onwusoro replied that he was unaware he could take such steps.

Court Adjournment

As the proceedings concluded, the court admitted several documents into evidence, including presidential approvals dated March 8, 2021, and June 24, 2021, alongside the internal memo addressed to the Permanent Secretary. Justice Hassan has adjourned the matter until February 9, 2027.

The current information regarding the case is limited to the testimonies and evidence presented in this specific hearing. Further details regarding the defense’s broader strategy or the specific financial implications of the alleged contract irregularities remain pending as the trial continues.

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p class=”vbna-source-note”>Source: Daily Post Nigeria

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