Ngige Allegedly Awarded NSITF Contract to Non-Bidding Company, EFCC Witness Tells Court

Ngige Allegedly Awarded NSITF Contract to Non-Bidding Company, EFCC Witness Tells Court

Abuja, Nigeria — January 29, 2026: A witness in the EFCC trial of former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has alleged that the former minister awarded a Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) contract to a company that did not participate in the bidding process, raising fresh concerns about procurement irregularities and corruption in government contracts.

During proceedings at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, the witness, Pedro Torwuese Chellen, project manager at Imanil Haq Nigeria Limited, told the court that his company applied for the ₦80 million NSITF Makurdi office renovation project but lost out to another firm that had never submitted a bid. Chellen said he reported the matter to the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and lodged petitions with EFCC after the NSITF management board failed to respond to queries regarding the irregular award.

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The witness further testified that the original contract title, “Renovation of Makurdi Office,” was later changed to “Construction of Makurdi Office” and the sum increased from ₦80 million to ₦120 million, without any engagement with his company. He also noted that while his firm was considered for smaller contracts worth ₦10 million each, one of these was later withdrawn, reinforcing suspicions of unfair treatment in the procurement process.

Chellen’s testimony is part of a broader eight-count fraud case against Ngige, in which he is accused of irregularly awarding contracts and mismanaging funds during his tenure. The former minister has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The trial, presided over by Justice M.A. Hassan, continues with further hearings scheduled in the coming weeks.

The case has drawn attention to persistent concerns about transparency in government procurement in Nigeria, with experts highlighting the need for strict adherence to bidding procedures to prevent public funds from being misappropriated.

Ngige Allegedly Awarded NSITF Contract to Non-Bidding Company, EFCC Witness Tells Court