Metro

Court imposes travel ban on Sirika, daughter over N2.7bn fraud case as he pleads not guilty

Photo caption: Former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika.

The immediate-past Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika and his daughter, Fatimah arraigned for N2.7bn fraud on Thursday.
The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, barred the immediate-past Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, his daughter, Fatimah, and son-in-law, Jalal Hamma, from travelling outside the country.
Justice Sylvanus Orji ruled that they must not leave the country pending the conclusion of their N2.7bn fraud trial.

Photo caption: The immediate-past Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika and his daughter, Fatimah.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Thursday on six counts, bordering on N2.7bn fraud.
They were arraigned alongside Al-Buraq Investment Ltd.
The anti-graft agency alleged that Sirika abused his office by awarding a consultancy N1.3bn contract for the Nigerian Air Start-up to Tianero Nigeria Limited.

Photo caption: The immediate-past Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika and his daughter, Fatimah.

The commission said in doing that, the ex-minister acted contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
In another count, the anti-graft agency alleged that on or about August 18, 2022, in Abuja, Sirika “did use your position to confer unfair advantage upon Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, whose alter ego, Fatima Hadi Sirika and Jalal Sule Hamma, are your daughter and son-in-law respectively, by using your position to influence the award to them, the contract for the Apron Extension at Katsina Airport for the sum of N1.498,300,750.00.”

Photo caption: The immediate-past Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika and his daughter, Fatimah.
The anti-graft agency said by so doing, Sirika violated Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and was liable to punishment under the same section.
In count three, the EFCC accused Sirika of criminal breach of trust “while being the Minister of Aviation and in such capacity as a public officer on or about August 18, 2022, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court.”

Photo caption: The immediate-past Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, and his daughter, Fatimah.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.
Following a bail application by the defence counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), the defendants were each granted bail in the sum of N100m with two sureties in like sum.
The judge said one of the sureties must own a landed property with valid land titles within the Federal Capital Territory.
The judge also held that the sureties must depose to an affidavit of means while he barred the defendants from travelling outside the shores of the country without permission.
Justice Orji added that failure to fulfill the bail conditions would earn the defendants a stay in a correctional facility.
He ruled, “I admit the first, second and third defendant to bail in the sum of 100m each with two sureties of like sum.
“One of the sureties must have a landed property within the Federal Capital Territory. The defendants must not travel outside the country.
“Any of them who is unable to fulfill the bail conditions will be remanded in the correctional centre.”
The trial was subsequently fixed for June 10, 11 and 20.

Related posts

Otudeko, Onasanya absent, court orders substituted service in N12.3bn fraud case

Editor

Customs intercept 31,500 litres of petrol valued N5.4m

Abisola THOMPSON

Bandits collecting taxes doesn’t mean they’ve taken over – Lai Mohammed

Our Reporter

Customs intercepts contraband worth N7.8bn in 2021

Our Reporter

Nigeria has over 70 online lending apps – FCCPC

Our Reporter

Bandits abduct 85 on Kaduna-Abuja Expressway

Editor