The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is expected to arraign former Minister of Labour and Productivity and ex-Anambra governor, Chris Ngige, in court today, according to a report by Vanguard.
Ngige was picked up on Monday in what family sources described as a “commando-style raid” at his Asokoro residence in Abuja. About 20 operatives from the EFCC’s Wuse II Zonal Office reportedly whisked him away without allowing him to change out of his pyjamas.
The former minister had been on administrative bail and had been engaging with the EFCC before the arrest. He was asked to return his travel documents but reportedly lost his passport in the United Kingdom while on a medical trip to the United States, forcing him to abort the journey and return home using emergency travel papers issued by the Nigerian High Commission in London.
Sources said Ngige had drafted a letter to notify the EFCC of the lost passport and his inability to return it but was arrested before he could submit the correspondence.
He is said to be surprised by the development, insisting he did not violate his bail terms and had been cooperating fully with investigators.
Ngige is expected to be arraigned today, after which the court will hear arguments from his legal team and determine whether he should be granted bail.