3.2K
By Lizzy Chirkpi
Chris Nwabueze Ngige’s political career has been one of the most dramatic in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic — a trajectory that moved from medicine to the apex of political power, and now to the dock of a corruption court.
Once celebrated for standing up to political godfathers, Ngige today faces an eight-count corruption trial that has reopened old debates about power, accountability, and selective justice in Nigeria.
Ngige partisan politics in 1999 under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), first serving as Assistant National Secretary and later as Zonal Secretary for the South East. These positions placed him firmly within the PDP power structure and paved the way for his controversial emergence as Governor of Anambra State in 2003.
That election was deeply contentious, marred by allegations of widespread manipulation and the heavy influence of political godfathers, particularly businessman Chris Uba. Multiple accounts from the period suggest that Ngige’s candidacy was tied to informal agreements that would allow Uba substantial control over appointments and contracts. Although Ngige later denied being coerced into any binding pact, he admitted that immense pressure was applied during the process.
Once sworn in, Ngige attempted to distance himself from these power brokers. This defiance culminated in July 2003 in one of the most extraordinary episodes in Nigeria’s political history, when he was forcibly removed from Government House by armed police officers. A forged resignation letter was presented to the Anambra State House of Assembly in what Ngige described as a kidnapping orchestrated by political interests seeking to reclaim control of the state. He resisted, returned to office, and survived the coup-like episode.
His governorship, however, ended in March 2006 when the Election Tribunal — a decision later upheld by the Court of Appeal — nullified the 2003 election and declared Peter Obi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) the rightful winner. Ngige accepted the ruling without protest and publicly urged Anambra residents to support Obi.
Ngige resurfaced nationally in 2011, winning election to the Senate for Anambra Central, defeating the late Professor Dora Akunyili. His senatorial tenure ended in 2015 after he lost his re-election bid. Later that year, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him Minister of Labour and Employment, a position he held until the end of Buhari’s administration in 2023.
As Labour Minister, Ngige became a central figure in several high-profile industrial disputes. His handling of the 2021 medical doctors’ strike — particularly his decision to take the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors to court — sparked outrage among health professionals and labour unions, who accused him of insensitivity and authoritarianism.
Ngige’s career has also been shaped by recurring controversies. During the 2003 campaign, reports linking him to a visit to the Okija shrine became political ammunition for opponents and remained a recurring embarrassment throughout his public life.
Another defining moment came in July 2020, when he appeared before a House of Representatives ad-hoc committee investigating the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), an agency under his ministry. What began as an accountability hearing quickly devolved into a public spectacle following heated exchanges between Ngige and committee member Hon. James Faleke, a close ally of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Ngige’s comments drew widespread condemnation. He referred to lawmakers as his “younger brothers” and singled out Faleke with a remark that quickly went viral:
“I am the same age with your mentor in Lagos, Asiwaju…”
The reference to Bola Tinubu was followed by comments widely interpreted as dismissive of Faleke’s political relevance. In another clip, Ngige taunted:
“I’m a Lagos boy; you are just a small boy in Lagos…”
The exchange overshadowed the committee’s work and was criticized as disrespectful, arrogant, and a distraction from serious oversight responsibilities.
In the lead-up to the 2023 presidential election, Ngige further distanced himself from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) power structure by refusing to publicly endorse Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the party’s candidate and eventual winner.
By December 2025, Ngige’s political fortunes took a dramatic turn. He was arrested and arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on eight counts of corruption amounting to approximately ₦2.2 billion. Prosecutors allege that between 2015 and 2023, while overseeing the NSITF as minister, Ngige corruptly awarded contracts to companies linked to associates and received illicit monetary benefits. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
A Federal Capital Territory High Court ordered his remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre before granting bail under stringent conditions.
The trial has ignited intense public debate. While the EFCC insists the charges reflect abuse of office, critics argue that the timing suggests political retaliation. They cite Ngige’s refusal to support Tinubu in 2023, his confrontation with Faleke, and his growing isolation within APC circles as possible factors.
However, no concrete evidence has emerged linking the prosecution to presidential influence. Neither the EFCC nor the Presidency has issued statements suggesting political motivation. Much of the suspicion remains confined to partisan discourse.
Public reactions on social media reflect this divide.
On Instagram, one user wrote:
“This is unbelievable! A former minister remanded in Kuje. Nigeria is finally changing!”
Another added:“Nigeria should treat rich politicians like everyone else!”
On X (formerly Twitter), @YemieFash commented: “₦2.2 billion is not ‘small money’ as the defense is trying to paint it. While workers struggled with minimum wage, NSITF funds were reportedly being shared with associates. Let the trial be speedy!
From Facebook, Chidi Okeke wrote in a public group: “Seeing Ngige in Kuje is a signal that no one is above the law.
Whether he is eventually found guilty or not, this process is necessary for our democracy. The NSITF has been a cash cow for too long.”
Others see bias. On X, @Anambra_First argued:“Ngige is being targeted because he isn’t playing the game anymore. Why focus on him while others with bigger files are walking free? This smells like 2027 politics.”
Similarly, Facebook user Amaka Eze wrote:
“Why is it always the South East leaders that get the ‘remand’ treatment so quickly? We are watching the EFCC closely. Let the law be applied equally to all former ministers.”
Ngige’s story captures the contradictions of Nigerian politics. His rise from clinician to governor, senator, and minister reflected significant public trust. His defiance of godfathers in 2003 marked a rare moment of political courage. Yet his early alliances with those same power brokers remain an indelible stain.
Today, his corruption trial places renewed focus on governance failures, institutional integrity, and the lingering question of whether Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign is driven by justice or politics. Whether Ngige is convicted, acquitted, or trapped in prolonged litigation, his case stands as a test of the credibility of Nigeria’s accountability systems and the fragile boundary between political dissent and prosecutorial