EFCC to arraign ex-minister Sirika, brother for N8.1bn fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will on May 23, 2024, arraign former Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika and his brother, Ahmad, before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in the Garki area of Abuja on fresh eight-count charge.

Sirika and his brother were slated to be arraigned before Justice Suleman Belgore but the arraignment was stalled due to the absence of the defendants in court.

EFCC had filed an eight-count charge bordering on abuse of office, criminal breach of trust, use of position for gratification against the former minister under former President Muhammadu Buhari, his brother, and a company, Enginos Nigeria Limited.

The anti-graft commission alleged that Sirika did confer an 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.

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, said Ahmad and Enginos Nigeria Limited had possession of an aggregate sum of N2,337,840,674.16 which they knew indirectly represented the proceeds of the criminal conduct of the former minister.

Sirika, others’ re-arraignment for fresh charges stalled

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

The anti-graft agency noted that the offences were 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.

When the case was called on Tuesday, May 13, prosecuting counsel Oluwaleke Atolagbe informed the court that the defendants were not in court.

Atolagbe said the defence counsel informed him that the defendants were not in Abuja, adding that they were even yet to be served the charges filed against them in court.

The lawyer added that the defendants were not in EFCC custody having been granted administrative bail.

He, however, told the court that the prosecution would be amending the charge against the defendants earlier filed before the court.

Defence counsel Olaniyi Anjorin confirmed to the court that what Atolagbe said about his clients was correct.

Following the prosecution’s request for an adjournment to enable the defendants to attend court to take their plead, Justice Belgore adjourned until May 23 for the arraignment of the former minister and his brother.

Buhari’s minister, Hadi Sirika, arrested for N8bn fraud

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