EFCC to Arraign Sirika, Daughter, and Two Others Over Alleged Fraud on Thursday
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is poised to arraign former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika, alongside his daughter, before Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maitama, on Thursday.
Sirika, who served during the administration of former president Muhammadu Buhari, faces a six-count amended charge. Also to be arraigned are his daughter, Fatima, Jalal Hamma, and Al-Duraq Investment Ltd, for alleged abuse of office.
According to the charge sheet seen by Channels Television, Sirika purportedly utilized his position as the Minister of Aviation to unlawfully award contracts to his daughter, son-in-law, and associates.
One of the counts reads: “That you HADI ABUBAKAR SIRIKA, while being the Minister of Aviation, between April 2022 and March 2023, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did use your position to confer an unfair advantage upon TIANAERO NIGERIA LIMITED whose alter ego, PROF. GABRIEL TILMANN is your Associate, by using your position to influence the award to them, the Consultancy contract for the Nigerian Air Start-up and extension of same for the sum of N1,326,731,470.97 (One Billion, Three Hundred and Twenty Six Million, Seven Hundred and Thirty-One Thousand, Four Hundred and Seventy Naira, Ninety-seven kobo 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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Count two details: “That you HADI ABUBAKAR SIRIKA, while being the Minister of Aviation, on or about 18 August 2022, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did use your position to confer an unfair advantage upon AL BURAQ GLOBAL INVESTMENT LTD whose alter ego, FATIMA HADI SIRIKA and JALAL SULE HAMMA are your daughter and son-in-law respectively, by using your position to influence the award to them, the contract for the Apron Extension at Katsina Airport for the sum of N1,498,300,750.00 (One Billion, Four Hundred and Ninety-Eight Million, Three Hundred Thousand, Seven Hundred and Fifty 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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The impending arraignment underscores the gravity of the allegations leveled against Sirika and his associates, with the EFCC intensifying its efforts to combat corruption in Nigeria.
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