Residents of Alor in Idemili South, Anambra State, are unsettled following the arrest of their kinsman and former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige, by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Many in the community are particularly distressed that the incident happened while he was still recovering from an attack on his convoy.
Witnesses alleged that EFCC personnel entered his Abuja residence on Bello Road in Asokoro and took him away. Community members, who gathered in small groups to discuss the situation, described Ngige as a long-time supporter of the town and voiced concern over his ordeal.
A resident identified as Okeke claimed that about 20 operatives from the EFCC’s Wuse II Zonal Office carried out the arrest on Wednesday. He said Ngige was taken without being allowed to change out of his pyjamas, describing the manner of his arrest as forceful.
Ngige had reportedly been recuperating at his hometown after surviving an attack in which gunmen targeted his convoy, resulting in the death of a woman and injuries to a security aide. During the week, he had received numerous visitors, including political associates and community members, offering sympathy.
Sources said Ngige had been searching for his missing passport and had planned to notify the EFCC about it before the arrest. According to them, he intended to clarify that he no longer had possession of the travel document that he had been instructed to return.
His media aide, Fred Chukwuelobe, later clarified that Ngige was not abducted, explaining that the former minister had been on administrative bail after being invited for questioning by the EFCC. He stated that Ngige was expected to appear in court on Friday, December 12, 2025.
Chukwuelobe explained that Ngige had travelled for medical reasons and lost his passport while in the United Kingdom on transit to the United States, forcing him to cancel the trip and return home. Replacement travel papers issued by the Nigerian High Commission enabled him to fly back to Abuja.
He added that Ngige had already drafted a letter intending to inform the EFCC of the missing passport and his inability to return it, but the arrest occurred before he could deliver the correspondence.
According to him, Ngige was surprised by the arrest, insisting he had complied with the conditions of his administrative bail and maintained communication with the agency.
