A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has told an Abuja High Court that he received presidential directives to implement decisions arising from an investigative panel set up to examine the activities of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).
The witness, Onwusoro Maduka Iheamelam, disclosed this on Thursday, November 12, 2026, while testifying in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecution of Ngige over alleged abuse of office and fraudulent contract awards worth N2.26 billion.
Iheamelam, the third prosecution witness (PW3) and a Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, made the disclosure during cross-examination by defence counsel, P.I.N. Ikwueto, SAN.
He told the court that he was a member of the presidential investigative panel established to investigate the activities of the NSITF under Ngige’s supervision.
According to the witness, he received a presidential directive to implement the President’s decisions based on the panel’s findings, including directives relating to the procurement functions and other activities of the NSITF during the period under investigation.
EFCC, Defence Disagree Over Witness Statements
Thursday’s proceedings also featured a disagreement between prosecution and defence lawyers over access to the witness’s statements.
Defence counsel, Ikwueto, requested that the prosecution produce the original copies of the witness’s statements for examination.
However, EFCC counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, objected, arguing that the defence should formally apply for Certified True Copies (CTCs) of the documents if it wanted to obtain them.
Ngige Faces Eight-Count Charge
The EFCC is prosecuting the former minister on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office and fraudulent contract awards involving NSITF contracts valued at N2,261,722,535.84.
The allegations relate to contracts awarded during Ngige’s tenure as Minister of Labour and Employment and his supervision of the NSITF.
Ngige is facing trial over the allegations, which have yet to be established in court.
Following Thursday’s proceedings, Justice M.A. Hassan adjourned the case until February 9, 10 and 11, 2027, for continuation of trial.
