Manny Ita
A key prosecution witness in the ongoing corruption trial of former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, told a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Gwarimpa on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, that an ₦80 million contract was awarded to a company that did not participate in the bidding process. Mr. Pedro Torwuese Chellen, an entrepreneur and project manager of Imanil Haq Nigeria Limited, testified as the first prosecution witness (PW1) before Justice M.A. Hassan. Chellen informed the court that while his company had competed for the contract to renovate the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) office in Makurdi, he discovered that the winning firm was absent from the official bidding exercise. According to a statement released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the witness testified 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 witness further alleged during the proceedings that after failing to receive a satisfactory explanation from the NSITF management, he petitioned the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), which confirmed the irregularity. Chellen also highlighted significant changes to the project’s scope and financing, noting that the contract title was altered from “Renovation of Makurdi Office” to “Construction of Makurdi Office,” with a corresponding price hike from ₦80 million to ₦120 million. Under cross-examination by the defense, Chellen clarified that his initial petition was directed at the NSITF management board rather than the former minister personally. Ngige, who also served as the Governor of Anambra State, was arraigned in December 2025 on an eight-count charge including allegations of giving undue advantage to associates and accepting financial gifts totaling over ₦2.26 billion. The EFCC maintains that these actions violate the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000. Following the day’s testimony, Justice Hassan adjourned the matter to today, January 29, 2026, for the continuation of the trial.
