N2bn fraud: EFCC presents 2 witnesses, evidence against ex-minister Sirika, daughter, others

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Thursday, June 26, 2025, presented its 10th and 11th witnesses in continuation of the trial of a former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Abubakar Sirika, and his daughter, Fatima Hadi Sirika, for alleged misappropriation of public funds to the tune of N2 billion.

Others involved in the trial are Sirika’s son-in-law, Hamma Jalal Sule, and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited.

Prosecution counsel A.O. Atolagbe presented the 10th prosecution witness, a public servant working with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and informed the court that he was employed as a staff of the defunct Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in 2003, which in 2021 became NUPRC.

The witness is currently the Head of Licensing and Permit, but was the Head, Human Resources in charge of employee management, staff welfare, and benefits, among others, when the EFCC requested employment details of the third defendant.

The witness, while giving his evidence-in-chief, informed the court that on March 14, 2024, his office was invited by the EFCC to forward employment records of the 3rd defendant, and this fell under his duty as the Head of HR.

He told the court he could identify the letter sent to the EFCC as the letter came with the organisation’s letterhead.

The document was presented to him, and after he identified it, Atolagbe sought it to be entered as an exhibit. Without any objection from the defence counsels of the 1st to 4th defendants, the document was entered and marked Exhibit 26.

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He also informed the court that background checks were done to find out from her former employer and records as an employee of that company.

It was revealed that he worked at the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Agency (NNRA) in 2021 as a regulatory officer.

He also confirmed that NUPRC is a government agency established by the Petroleum Industry Act.

The 11th prosecution witness, a civil servant and staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, introduced himself as a Deputy Manager of Policy Compliance and Accountability and was previously Acting Manager of Compensation and Employee Performance.

He informed the court that EFCC sent a letter requesting information about their staff, Fatima Sirika, and they responded via a covering memo with NNPC Limited letterhead, which he signed himself.

Documents were tendered in evidence and admitted as Exhibit 27.

The judge, thereafter, adjourned the matter to June 30, 2025, for the continuation of trial.

The Star