Ngige was picked up at his residence on Justice Mohammed Bello Street on Wednesday night, though no security agency initially stepped forward to claim responsibility for the operation, fueling early speculation that he had been kidnapped.
Multiple sources later confirmed that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) carried out the arrest. One source familiar with the development told SaharaReporters that Ngige was “humiliated during the arrest,” insisting, “It was an EFCC operation, not a kidnap.”
His former media aide, Fred Chukwuelobe, also confirmed that the ex-minister was in EFCC custody, saying in a brief statement: “Former Governor of Anambra State and immediate past Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, is with the EFCC. More details later.”
As of the time of filing this report, the EFCC has not issued any official statement, leaving questions about the reason for the arrest unanswered.
The development comes just days after armed men attacked Ngige’s convoy in Anambra State, leaving a police officer injured. The former governor was not in the vehicle at the time of the ambush.
Ngige’s political career has witnessed previous dramatic episodes, including his widely publicized abduction in 2003 while serving as governor of Anambra State.
