A key prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Anambra State governor and ex-Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, alleged that an N80 million contract for the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund Makurdi office was awarded without a proper bidding process.
The matter is before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Gwarimpa, Abuja, where the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Ngige on corruption and contract fraud charges.
The witness, identified as Mr Pedro Torwuese Chellen, told the court that his company participated in the advertised tender process for the NSITF contract but later discovered that the award was given to a firm that did not bid.
Chellen said his company responded to the public advertisement, submitted its bid and waited for feedback. After a long delay without explanation, he sought clarification from NSITF management. When there was no satisfactory response, he escalated the matter to the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).
The BPP reportedly confirmed that the company eventually awarded the contract had not participated in the bidding process.
“The First Prosecution Witness, PW1 Mr Pedro Torwuese Chellen in the trial of former governor of Anambra State and former Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige on Wednesday January 28, 2026 told a Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Gwarimpa, Abuja, and presided over by Justice M.A. Hassan said that the company that won the contract for renovation of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund NSITF, Makurdi office at the cost of N80 million (Eighty Million Naira only) did not take part in the contract bidding,” the prosecution statement read in part.
Chellen also raised concerns about changes to the contract after it was published. He said the title shifted from “Renovation of Makurdi Office” to “Construction of Makurdi Office” and the cost was increased to N120 million.
The witness’s testimony details part of the EFCC investigation into procurement practices at the NSITF, which began after Chellen and his legal team petitioned the anti-graft agency in 2023.
During cross-examination, Chellen acknowledged that his petition was directed at the management board of the NSITF rather than individual members. He also confirmed that he had not attended any board meetings and only learned through media reports that the board was later reconstituted.
Chellen admitted that his company did not receive a letter of award nor execute a contract with the NSITF for the Makurdi project. He also disclosed that, following his complaint, NSITF officials invited him and asked him to drop the matter, promising his firm would get other contracts.
He said that two contracts of N10 million each were later awarded to his company, though one was eventually withdrawn. He stated, “I did not bid for those contracts, and I did not attend any NSITF board meeting.”
The matter has been adjourned with proceedings scheduled to continue.
Background materials show that the EFCC arraigned Ngige in December 2025 on an eight-count charge marked FCT/HC/CR/726/2025. Prosecutors allege that he used his office to confer undue advantage through contract awards, among other acts.
The EFCC claims that between September 2015 and May 2023, while Ngige supervised the NSITF as Minister of Labour, he allegedly gave preferential treatment to companies linked to associates.
Among the accusations are allegations that Ngige approved award of various contracts worth hundreds of millions of naira to companies including Cezimo Nigeria Limited, Zitacom Nigeria Limited, Jeff & Xris Limited, Olde English Consolidated Limited and Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services.
The EFCC also claims that Ngige accepted financial gifts from contractors through organisations linked to him. The allegations, the commission asserts, violate provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
At a bail application hearing, the EFCC opposed Ngige’s request for bail, highlighting that he had previously failed to comply with bail conditions including returning his international passport after foreign travel. The prosecution urged caution by the court in considering his bail request.
Ngige has pleaded not guilty. His defence counsel has begun challenging the admissibility of evidence and will present reasons for opposing some of the prose
