The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has detained former Anambra State Governor, Chris Ngige, according to an aide.

 

Ngige, who served as Nigeria’s Minister of Labour and Employment from 2015 to 2023, was reportedly arrested by EFCC operatives at his residence on Justice Mohammed Bello Road in Abuja.

 

Earlier that day, speculation arose suggesting that Ngige had been “abducted” by gunmen in the Nigerian capital. However, Fred Chukwuelobe, Ngige’s media aide, swiftly dismissed these claims. In a Facebook post on Wednesday night, Chukwuelobe confirmed that the EFCC had detained the former governor, stating: “Ngige is with the EFCC. He was not ‘abducted’ or ‘kidnapped.’”

 

At the time of reporting, the reasons for Ngige’s arrest remain unclear. Efforts to reach Dele Olawale, the EFCC’s spokesperson, for a statement were unsuccessful, despite multiple text messages and phone calls.

 

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Ngige, a member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, governed Anambra State from May 29, 2003, to March 17, 2006, under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. His arrest comes exactly two weeks after his convoy was attacked by gunmen along the Nkpor-Nnobi Road in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State on November 26.

 

During the attack, a woman who was filming the incident was tragically killed, and a police officer attached to the convoy was also shot. Ngige, however, was not present in the convoy at the time of the assault.

The investigation into the former governor’s detention is ongoing, and more updates are expected in the coming days.

 

Source: Premium Times