₦19.4 Billion Fraud: Court Grants Sirika, Brother N200 Million Bail

Justice Suleiman Belgore of the Federal Capital Territory High Court on Thursday granted bail to the former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, and his brother, Ahmad Abubakar Sirika. The bail was set at ₦100 million each, with stringent conditions attached, reflecting the seriousness of the charges against them. Both defendants are required to provide two sureties, one of whom must own a landed property within the Federal Capital Territory, valued at a similar sum. In addition to the financial conditions, the court has restricted their travel, stipulating that the Sirika brothers cannot leave Nigeria without prior permission from the court. This decision comes after careful consideration of the bail application, with Justice Belgore stating he found no reason to deviate from the bail conditions previously granted by Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the same court. Ruling on the motion on notice for the 1st defendant, Hadi Sirika, the court held that “The prosecution filed no counter affidavit. He is already on administrative bail, he met all the bail applications, he continues to abide by the bail conditions, he has never been convicted of any criminal offence in Nigeria, he is a recipient of National honours, he has an aged mother he is catering for an investigation in the case has been completed. “It is my resolution that this applicant deserves to be admitted to bail and I so do.” Concerning Sirika’s brother, ruling on the motion on notice, brought pursuant to Sections 158, 156 and 135 of ACJA, where he requested a sole relief (bail). The trial judge granted him bail in the same terms and conditions as the 1st defendant (Sirika). The Sirika brothers, and the company, Enginos Nigeria Limited, are facing a ten-count amended charge bordering on contract fraud to the tune of ₦19.4 billion.

Hadi Sirika: EFCC To Invite Sacked Heads Of FAAN, NAMA, Others

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is planning to invite all the sacked Heads of agencies of the Ministry of Aviation over the failed Nigeria Air project. The sacked officials are being invited in connection with an ongoing investigation of a former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, relating to money laundering amounting to N8.069 billion. According to Daily Trust, the anti-graft agency is planning to formally invite all the sacked heads of agencies who worked directly under Senator Sirika in the aviation ministry. An EFCC official told the newspaper that letters of invitation to the sacked and suspended officials were already prepared to come over to explain their roles in the alleged different fraudulent activities that took place in the ministry under Sirika. Recall that President Bola Tinubu sacked the heads of Nigeria’s aviation agencies in December 2023, including the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET), and Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT). Those sacked included Kabir Mohammed of FAAN; Tayib Odunowo of NAMA; Akinola Olateru of NSIB; Prof. Mansur Matazu of NiMet; and Alkali Modibbo, the Rector of NCAT while also suspending the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Captain Musa Nuhu.