An Exclusive From TheNewsGiant
Six years after blocking June 12 Hero and former General Secretary of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Chief Frank Kokori from the position of Chairman of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), former Minister of Labour and Productivity under President Muhammadu Buhari, Dr. Chris Ngige, will today Friday begin to face trial for allegedly defrauding the organisation of over N2 billion.
Kokori died in 2023.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested Ngige on Wednesday and has filed an eight-count charge against the former Minister and Governor of Anambra State.
Ngige was indicted in the anti-graft body’s investigation into alleged contract fraud linked to his tenure as supervising Minister for NSITF.
While Buhari was receiving treatment overseas, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo had appointed Chief Frank Kokori as NSITF Chairman early 2018.
However, Ngige reportedly blocked Kokori from resuming in the position.
Upon Buhari returning from his medical emergency abroad, a cabal led by Ngige reportedly forced the reversal of the appointment by Osinbajo, and got Kokori instead to be named Chairman of the Michael Imoudu Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS).
Kokori and organised Labour (NLC, NUPENG) rejected this development, with workers disrupting the inauguration of the NSITF board and demanding that the former oil workers’ leader be inducted as the authentic Chairman due to his integrity and fight for democracy.
Kokori and Labour fingered Labour Minister Chris Ngige as leader of the cabal blocking his appointment for pecuniary reasons, allegedly because Kokori’s legendary forthrightness would disallow corruption in NSITF, regarded as the Ministry of Labour’s cash-cow and most juicy parastatal.
A copy of EFCC’s filing against Ngige indicated that the former Minister would be arraigned today Friday before the FCT High Court, Gwarimpa, Abuja.
According to the charge sheet dated October 31 and filed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Sylvanus Tahir, alongside five other EFCC lawyers, the Commission alleges that Ngige abused his office by awarding multiple contracts to his associates and companies reportedly connected to him.
In Count One, the EFCC alleges that between September 2015 and May 2023, while supervising the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Ngige “used his position to confer an unfair advantage upon Cezimo Nigeria Limited,” a firm allegedly linked to his associate, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles.
The company reportedly received seven contracts for consultancy, training, and supplies valued at ₦366,470,920.68.
The offence is said to contravene Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The charge also lists several other companies allegedly favoured by the former minister.
These include Zitacom Nigeria Limited, also linked to Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles, which reportedly received eight NSITF contracts valued at ₦583,682,686.00.
Jeff & Xris Limited, connected to Nwosu Jideofor Chukwunwike, was also said to have secured eight contracts amounting to ₦362,043,163.16.
Additionally, Olde English Consolidated Limited, whose Managing Director, Uzoma Igbonwa, allegedly benefited from four contracts covering consultancy, training, and construction worth ₦668,138,141.00, is named in the charge.
Another company reportedly connected to Igbonwa, Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited, is also listed as having received four contracts valued at ₦161,604,625.00.
The former Minister is expected to enter a plea when he appears in court on Friday, as the EFCC continues what it describes as a broader probe into procurement activities during his stewardship of the NSITF.
In the fifth count, Ngige was alleged to have given four contracts worth N161,604,625 to Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited, whose owner was identified Uzoma
Counts six to eight accused the former Minister of corruptly receiving monetary gifts from NSITF contractors between May and June 2022.
The EFCC alleged that he received N38,650,000 through his campaign organisation from Cezimo Nigeria Limited, N55,003,000 through his scholarship scheme from Zitacom Nigeria Limited, and N26,130,000 from Jeff & Xris Limited.
The offences, according to the EFCC, violate sections 17(a) and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Kokori, legendary Nigerian labour leader and pro-democracy activist, led NUPENG to champion the June 12 struggle, for which he was arrested and imprisoned by the Military.
