Former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, is currently in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), according to his media aide, Fred Chukwuelobe.
Chukwuelobe issued the clarification after widespread rumours suggested that the former Anambra State governor had been kidnapped on Monday night. He said he had received several calls from friends and journalists seeking confirmation.
“I have been receiving calls in the past hour from friends and journalists seeking the veracity of the news making the rounds that His Excellency, Dr. Chris Ngige… ‘has been kidnapped,’” he wrote on Facebook.
“Ngige is with the EFCC. He was not ‘abducted’ or ‘kidnapped.’”
Chukwuelobe added that more details would be provided as they become available.
Efforts to get a response from EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, were unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent to him were not returned.
The clarification comes just days after an attack on Ngige’s convoy on November 27, along the Nkpor–Nnobi road in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State. Gunmen disguised as security operatives opened fire, killing a woman who was recording the incident and injuring a police officer and several civilians.
Ngige was not present in the convoy during the attack.
