By Ayodele Oni
Former Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige’s stay at Kuje prison has been extended till December 18, when his bail application would be decided by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting at Gwarimpa in Abuja.
Both Counsels for the plaintiff and defendant took the time of the court on Monday to argue for and against the bail request by Ngige.
The court had, last week, deferred action on the bail application till Monday.
Justice Maryam Aliyu Hassan issued the order on Monday shortly after taking arguments for, and against the bail request.
Counsel to Ngige, Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, pleaded with the Judge to admit the former Minister to bail, mainly on health grounds.
He submitted that the former Minister would not jump bail or interfere with witnesses if admitted to bail.
On the other hand, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, vehemently opposed the bail request.
While noting that Ngige was a flight risk, Tahir told the Judge that the former Anambra Governor was granted administrative bail by the anti-graft agency and allowed to travel abroad for medical care, but never reported back to the Commission.
The legal luminary further argued that the international passport released to Ngige; to facilitate the trip abroad was never returned till today.
According to Tahir, it was when Ngige was re-arrested that he came up with a purported claim that he lost his passport.
The lawyer maintained that the claim of passport loss was an afterthought and should not be believed by the court.
After the submissions, Justice Hassan fixed December 18 to deliver ruling in the bail request.
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