Alleged ₦2.7bn Fraud: Sirika Arraigned, Pleads Not Guilty, Gets ₦100m Bail

Former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika entered a not guilty plea to the Federal Government’s allegations of fraudulent activities totaling around N2.7 billion.

At the Abuja Federal High Court, Judge Sylvanus Oriji arraigned Sirika, his daughter Fatima, his son-in-law Jalal Sule Hamma, and a business called Al Buraq Global Investment Limited.

Read the six-count counts, the daughter and son-in-law also entered not guilty pleas.

The judge approved their bail applications after each of their solicitors refuted the fraud allegations.

Justice Oriji admitted the three defendants on ₦100 million bail with two sureties of the same amount.

For the landed property of one of the sureties, the FCT Minister must sign a certificate of occupancy; for the other sureties, responsible individuals with valid home addresses are required.

The accused were to not leave the country unless the judge specifically gave his or her approval.

Justice Orijin mandated that they be held in jail custody until the bail conditions were met if they failed to do so.

The judge slated the trial to start on June 10.

Sirika worked in the government of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Wednesday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced that Sirika and the other three would be arraigned.

According to the charge sheet, Sirika fraudulently gave his daughter, son-in-law, and accomplices contracts using his role as minister.

Over an alleged contract scam in the aviation ministry, the EFCC detained Sirika’s brother Abubakar Sirika in February.

Allegations against Sirika while he was minister included conspiracy, misuse of office, misappropriation of public funds, contract inflation, criminal betrayal of confidence, and money laundering totaling N8,069,176,864.

The EFCC revealed that the money in issue were linked to four aviation contracts that the former minister awarded to Engirios Nigeria Limited, the company of his younger brother.