A pivotal witness in the ongoing corruption trial of former Anambra State Governor and ex-Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, alleged on Wednesday that an N80 million contract for the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Makurdi office was awarded without following a proper competitive bidding process.
The matter is currently before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Gwarimpa, Abuja, where the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Ngige on charges of corruption and contract fraud.
The witness, Mr. Pedro Torwuese Chellen, testified that his company participated in the publicly advertised tender for the NSITF contract but later discovered that the award went to a firm that did not submit a bid.
Chellen said his company responded to the tender, submitted its documents, and waited for feedback, but after repeated delays and no explanation, he sought clarification from NSITF management.
When the NSITF did not provide a satisfactory response, Chellen escalated the matter to the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), which confirmed that the contract recipient had not participated in the bidding process.
“The First Prosecution Witness, PW1 Mr. Pedro Torwuese Chellen, told the FCT High Court that the company that won the contract for renovation of NSITF Makurdi office at the cost of N80 million did not take part in the contract bidding,” a statement from the prosecution read.
Chellen further testified that after the award, the contract title and scope were altered from “Renovation of Makurdi Office” to “Construction of Makurdi Office,” with the cost rising to N120 million, raising additional concerns about procurement irregularities.
Under cross-examination, Chellen clarified that his petition was directed at the NSITF management board as an institution, not individual members, and that he had no attendance at board meetings. He admitted that his company did not receive any letter of award or execute the Makurdi project.
He also said NSITF officials later invited him to withdraw the complaint, promising other contracts. Two smaller contracts of N10 million each were subsequently offered to his company, though one was later rescinded.
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The testimony forms part of the EFCC’s wider investigation into NSITF procurement practices, which began in 2023 following Chellen’s complaint.
Background materials indicate that Ngige was arraigned in December 2025 on an eight-count charge (FCT/HC/CR/726/2025), accused of using his office to confer undue advantages through contract awards.
Between September 2015 and May 2023, while overseeing NSITF as Minister of Labour, Ngige allegedly awarded contracts worth hundreds of millions of naira to companies linked to associates, including Cezimo Nigeria Limited, Zitacom Nigeria Limited, Jeff & Xris Limited, Olde English Consolidated Limited, and Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services.
The EFCC also alleges that Ngige received financial gifts from contractors through organisations associated with him, in violation of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Ngige has pleaded not guilty. At a bail hearing, the EFCC opposed his request, citing prior non-compliance with bail conditions, including failure to surrender his international passport after foreign travel.
Proceedings have been adjourned, with the trial set to continue at a later date as the defence begins challenging the admissibility of evidence and raising objections to portions of the prosecution’s case.