Alleged N2.2b Fraud: Ngige’ Ministry Took Over NSITF’s Procurement Department’s Functions – Witnesses

The trial of the former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, continued on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, before Justice M.A. Hassan of the Federal Capital Territory, High Court, Gwarinpa, Abuja with two prosecution witnesses affirming that the defendant transferred the functions of the procurement department of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund NSITF to his ministry.

Ngige is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on an eight-count charge, bordering on abuse of office and fraudulent contract award to the tune of N2,261,722,535.84 (Two billion, Two Hundred and Sixty-one Million, Seven Hundred and Twenty-two Thousand, Five Hundred and Thirty-five naira, Eighty-four kobo).

The Second Prosecution Witness, PW2, Ken Nwagha, a former acting Managing Director of NSITF, while under cross-examination by defence counsel, P.I.N. Ikwueto, SAN, disclosed that the defendant, while transferring the NSITF’s procurement department to his ministry, only informed him by word of mouth that there was a presidential directive authorising his action.

The position of PW2 was reinforced by the Third Prosecution Witness, PW3, Onwusoro Maduka Iheamelam, a permanent secretary in the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs.

Testifying under the guidance of the prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, the PW3, who served as director of procurement in NSITF as well as in various ministries disclosed that the defendant in 2022, wrote to the permanent secretary conveying the absorption of the functions of NSITF’s procurement department by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment. He further stated that as the then director of procurement in NSITF, he communicated the directive to NSITF’s Managing Director on behalf of the Permanent Secretary.

EFCC

Having served as director of procurement in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and being a member of its Ministerial Tenders Board, MTB from 2019 to 2023, he stated that procurement regulations prescribed contract thresholds for Parastatals Tender Board, PTB and that of MTB, disclosing that contracts that fell outside the approval threshold of the PTB were referred to the MTB.

Justice Hassan adjourned the matter till July 2, 2026, for continuation of trial.
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Nigeria Still Not Generating Enough Revenue From Tax, Says Taiwo Oyedele

Taiwo Oyedele, minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, says Nigeria is still not generating enough revenue from taxation.
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Oyedele spoke on Thursday in Abuja while receiving the leadership of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), led by Innocent Ohagwa, its president, as part of activities marking the institute’s maiden national tax awareness day road walk.

The minister said the country’s challenge is not about increasing tax rates but ensuring that individuals and businesses who are required to pay taxes comply under a fair and transparent system.

“We are still not getting enough revenue from tax,” Oyedele said.

“It is not about increasing tax, but making sure that those who are supposed to pay tax pay. We want to promote fairness in tax administration.”

He commended the institute for supporting the federal government’s tax reform agenda and promoting public understanding of taxation, but urged it to intensify public awareness efforts.

The fiscal policy expert said many Nigerians still view taxation as a tool for government to collect money rather than as a critical instrument for national development.

Taiwo Oyedele

Oyedele added that if Nigeria gets its tax system right, the level of development will be monumental.

The minister also challenged the institute to introduce annual awards recognising the country’s most tax-compliant individuals and organisations to encourage voluntary compliance.
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Dangote Refinery Cuts Petrol Before Gantry Price By N50 To N1,125/litre

In a notice to customers, the refinery said the ex-depot price has been adjusted downward from N1,175 per litre to N1,125 per litre, while the coastal supply price was reduced from N1,495,215 per metric tonne to N1,428,165 per metric tonne.
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The refinery attributed the price reduction to the easing of tensions in the Middle East, which has led to a decline in global energy prices.

The latest adjustment comes barely a week after the refinery reduced its ex-gantry petrol price by N75 per litre to N1,175 from N1,250, citing the de-escalation of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the resulting impact on energy markets.

The refinery had increased petrol prices several times earlier in the year amid supply concerns triggered by tensions in the Middle East and disruptions to global oil flows.

In March, the plant raised its ex-gantry price to N1,175 per litre following a sharp increase in crude oil prices linked to the conflict in the region.

The latest reduction is expected to influence depot and retail pump prices across the country as marketers adjust to the new pricing template.

Dangote Refinery

Global oil prices have significantly fallen since the United States and Iran signed a peace agreement in Switzerland that will mark the start of a 60-day negotiation period.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, dropped to $72.97 per barrel — lowest since February, when the conflict began.
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