News Desk
The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maitama, granted bail to the former Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Hadi Abubakar Sirika, along with his daughter, Fatimah Hadi Sirika, and his son-in-law, Jalal Hamma. Sirika, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari, was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a six-count amended charge related to an alleged 2.7 billion naira fraud.
He and his co-defendants, including Jalal Hamma and Al-Duraq Investment Ltd, were accused of abuse of office. According to the charge sheet, Sirika purportedly used his position as the Minister of Aviation to unlawfully award contracts to his daughter, son-in-law, and associates. Before Justice Sylvanus Orji, the trial judge, granted bail, all defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs SAN, informed the court of an amended charge by the EFCC filed on May 8, which was not opposed by the defendants’ counsel. Sirika’s lead counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN), presented his client’s bail application dated May 6. The other defendants also filed bail applications, requesting leniency in the conditions.
Jacobs stated that all defendants were on administrative bail and requested bail conditions ensuring their appearance for trial. After hearing all parties, Justice Orji granted bail to each defendant in the sum of 100 million naira with two sureties each. One surety must possess a landed property with valid land titles in the Federal Capital Territory.
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Furthermore, the sureties were required to depose to an affidavit of means, and the defendants were prohibited from traveling outside the country without court permission. Justice Orji warned that failure to meet bail conditions would result in remand in a correctional facility. He stipulated, “I admit the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd defendant to bail in the sum of 100 million each with 2 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 fulfil the bail conditions will be remanded in the correctional center.”
The trial dates were set for June 10, 11, and 20.
Techrectory with Agency Report.
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