Ex-aviation minister, Sirika, daughter arraigned, granted bail
Aformer Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika has been arraigned before an FCT High Court over corruption allegations.
Sirika was arraigned alongside his daughter, Fatima Hadi Sirika, his sonin-law, Jalal Sule Hamma and Al Buraq Global Investment Ltd.
After pleading not guilty to the charges, Justice Sylvanus Oriji granted the defendants bail in the sum of N100 million and two sureties each in like sum.
The judge further directed that the sureties must be responsible citizens with verifiable home addresses while one of them must have landed property with a certificate of occupancy signed by the FCT minister.
Furthermore, the judge ordered that the defendants must not travel out of the country without express permission of the court.
However, the judge ordered the defendants to be remanded in the correctional centre if they are unable to perfect the bail conditions before the adjourned date of June 11.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the four defendants on a six-count charge bordering on abuse of office and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N4.1 billion.
According to the EFCC, Sirika had between August 2022 and March 2023 used his position to confer unfair advantage and influence the award of the consultancy contract for the Nigerian Air start-up and extension worth N1,326,731,470.97 (One billion, three hundred and twenty six million, seven hundred and thirty one thousand, four hundred and seventy naira, ninety seven kobo only) to Tianaero Nigeria Ltd whose alter ego is his associate, Prof Gabriel Tilmann.
The former minister was also alleged to in August 2022 used his position to confer unfair advantage and influence the award of the Apron Extension at the Katsina Airport in the sum of N1,498,300,750.00 (one billion, four hundred and ninety eight million, three hundred thousand, seven hundred and fifty naira to the Al Bufaq Global Investment Ltd whose alter ego, Fatima Hadi Sirika and Jalal Sule Hamma are his daughter and son-in-law respectively.
The offences are contrary to sections 12, 19 and 14 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and Section 315 of the Penal Code Cap 352 of the Federation.