By: Adeosun Ewatomi
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Abubakar Sirika, along with his brother Ahmad Abubakar Sirika and two companies, Enginos Nigeria Limited and Samahah Integrated Investment Limited, before Justice S.B. Belgore of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Garki.
They were charged in an amended 10-count indictment alleging contract fraud totalling N5,802,254,573.55.
The charges include using Sirika’s position as Aviation Minister to award contracts worth N1.3 billion and N3.8 billion to a company owned by his brother, as well as holding private interests in aviation contracts worth over N5.7 billion awarded to the same company.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The court granted them bail in the sum of N100 million each, with two sureties, one of whom must own a property in the Federal Capital Territory.
The defendants are also prohibited from travelling outside the country without the court’s permission
The trial is scheduled to commence on May 28-29.
Count one reads: ‘that you Hadi Abubakar Sirika, while being the Minister of Aviation, on or about 18th August 2022, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did use your position to confer unfair advantage upon Enginos Nigeria Limited whose alter ego, Ahmad Abubakar Sirika is your biological brother by using your position to influence the award to them, the contract for the construction of a Terminal Building at Katsina Airport for the sum of N1,345,586,500.00 (One Billion, Three Hundred and Forty Five Million, Five Hundred and Eighty Six Thousand Five Hundred Naira Only) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under the same Section”.
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