19.4bn fraud: Court grants Sirika, brother N200m bail

The Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Abuja has admitted former Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika and his brother, Abubakar, to bail in the sum of N100 million each and two sureties each in like sum.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Sirika, his brother, and a company, Enginos Nigeria Limited, with eight counts of abuse of office, criminal breach of trust and use of position for gratification.

Justice Suleiman Belgore, in his ruling on the bail applications by the defendants on Thursday, May 23, 2024, held that he found merit in their bail applications.

“I find considerable merit in this application. He is a presumably innocent fellow not likely to jump bail. He deserves to be granted bail,” the judge held.

The judge adopted the terms and conditions of bail granted to the former minister in a sister case marked CR/348/ 2024 where the defendant is standing trial alongside his daughter and son-in-law.

“I see no reason to depart from the bail terms granted to him in that suit,” Justice Belgore added.

Sirika, others’ re-arraignment for fresh charges stalled

The judge, thereafter, adjourned until May 28 for the commencement of trial.

The EFCC had, on May 9, arraigned Sirika alongside his daughter Fatima, son-in-law Jalal Sule, and Al Daruq Investment Limited before Justice Sylvanus Oriji, also of the FCT High Court, Maitama on an alleged N4.1billion contract fraud.

The four defendants were charged with offences bordering on contract fraud, corruption, and gratification.

They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them by EFCC.

Following their not-guilty pleas, Justice Oriji admitted each of them to bail in the sum of N100 million with two sureties each in like sum.

The judge ruled that each of their sureties must depose to an affidavit of means, while one of the two sureties for each of them must possess landed property within the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) covered by a valid Certificate of Occupancy duly signed by the FCT Minister.

The anti-graft commission had alleged that Sirika did confer unfair advantage upon Enginos Nigeria Limited, whose alter ego is his biological brother, Ahmad, by using his position to influence the award of a contract for the construction of a terminal building at Katsina Airport for the sum of N1,345,586,500.

The EFCC further alleged that the former minister used his position to influence the award of a contract for the establishment of the Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre at Katsina Airport for the sum of N3,811,497,685.

It also, among others, alleged that Ahmad and Enginos Nigeria Limited had possession of ab aggregate sum of N2,337,840,674.16 which they knew indirectly represented the proceeds of criminal conduct of the former minister.

The offences, according to EFCC, were committed in Abuja between August 2022 and May 2023.

According to the anti-graft agency, the offence is contrary to the provisions of Sections 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000; Section 17(b) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004 as well as Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Acts of the Federal Capital Territory and punishable under the same Acts.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The Star