Ngige Storms APC Caucus Meeting at Aso Villa
Barely hours after his release from the Kuje Correctional Centre, former Governor of Anambra State and Senator, Dr Chris Ngige, on Thursday, made a surprise appearance at the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caucus meeting in Abuja.
Ngige, who is the immediate past Minister of Labour and Employment, had been remanded in Kuje prison following corruption allegations levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The former governor was, however, granted bail earlier in the day and was able to meet all the stipulated bail conditions before proceeding to the meeting.
He arrived at the State House Conference Centre shortly after President Bola Tinubu had taken his seat. On arrival, Ngige was temporarily held by security operatives for clearance but was later allowed to join other party leaders at the meeting.
His appearance at the caucus meeting drew cheers from some presidential aides and party members, marking his first major public engagement since his release from custody.
The Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Gwarinpa had granted him bail where he is standing trial over alleged fraud running into billions of naira.
The presiding judge, Justice Maryam Hassan, ruled that Ngige should continue on the administrative bail earlier granted to him in October by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
However, the court directed that Ngige must provide a surety who is a serving director in the federal civil service.
Justice Hassan further ordered that the surety must own a landed property and deposit the property documents, along with travel documents, with the court pending the retrieval of Ngige’s international passport.
EDITOR
Sam Udekwe is a journalist working in the News and Current Affairs department, Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) Enugu. He is well trained in all genres of journalistic venture.
Mr Sam read Mass Communication, graduating all with Distinction in National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma at IMT, Enugu and Madonna University, Okija, Anambra state, as well as M.Sc Mass Communication with Second Class(Upper Division) at National Open University of Nigeria.
He is the immediate past NUJ Chairman, Enugu state.
samowailo@gmail.com
