Ngige Trial: Witness Alleges Irregular NSITF Contract Award

A key prosecution witness testified that the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) under former Labour Minister Chris Ngige awarded a contract for Makurdi office renovation to a firm that skipped the bidding process. Pedro Torwuese Chellen, project manager at Imanil Haq Nigeria Limited (also referred to as Imanihad), detailed how his company bid N85m in 2017 after a newspaper advert but lost out unfairly. The court admitted his EFCC petition as Exhibit P1 during proceedings at FCT High Court, Gwarimpa, Abuja, before Justice Maryam A. Hassan. 

Testimony Highlights

Chellen explained his firm responded to a Guardian advert, got pre-qualified, and submitted bids, but received no feedback for months. He wrote to NSITF without reply, then approached the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), which confirmed the award to Altitude Global Links Limited—a non-participant. During cross-examination by defence counsel Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), he noted the contract title shifted from “renovation” to “construction,” with costs rising from N80m to N120m, and admitted his 2023 EFCC statement highlighted NSITF corruption. He confirmed his petition targeted NSITF management, not individuals, and learned of board reconstitution via media. NSITF later offered his firm two N10m contracts (one withdrawn), but he stressed no personal attendance at board meetings. 

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Case Background

Ngige faces an eight-count charge over alleged N2.2bn NSITF fraud from his 2015-2023 tenure, including abuse of office and gifts from contractors. EFCC accuses him of influencing awards to associates: N366m to Cezimo Nigeria Limited (7 contracts), N584m to Zitacom (8), N362m to Jeff & Xris (8), N668m to Olde English Consolidated (4), and N162m to Shale Atlantic (4). Arraigned December 12, 2025, he pleaded not guilty and is on bail with conditions. Prosecution led by Sylvanus Tahir (SAN). 

Court Proceedings

The session on January 28, 2026, featured Chellen (PW1) led by Tahir, with the petition and bids tendered despite defence objections (reserved for final address). Cross-examination revealed Chellen never got an award letter or signed agreements for the project. Justice Hassan adjourned to January 29, 2026—today—for continued cross-examination. Ngige was initially remanded post-arraignment but released on bail shortly after.