On Thursday, a Federal Capital Territory High Court granted bail to former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika and his brother, Abubakar, each in the sum of N100 million with two sureties in like sum. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Sirika, his brother, and Enginos Nigeria Ltd with eight counts of abuse of office, criminal breach of trust, and use of position for gratification.
Justice Suleiman Belgore ruled in favor of their bail applications, stating, "I find considerable merit in this application. He is a presumably innocent fellow not likely to jump bail. He deserves to be granted bail and I so do." The judge adopted the same bail terms as those granted to Sirika in a related case (CR/348/2024), where he is also standing trial alongside his daughter and son-in-law.
The trial has been adjourned to May 28.
The EFCC had previously arraigned Sirika, his daughter Fatima, son-in-law Jalal Sule, and Al Daruq Investment Limited before Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the FCT High Court in Maitama on an alleged N4.1 billion contract fraud. They pleaded not guilty and were each granted bail in the sum of N100 million with two sureties, one of whom must possess landed property within the Abuja Municipal Area Council covered by a valid Certificate of Occupancy.
The EFCC accused Sirika of using his position to influence the award of contracts to Enginos Nigeria Limited, whose alter ego is his brother Ahmad, for the construction of a terminal building at Katsina Airport and the establishment of a Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre at the same airport, totaling over N5 billion. Ahmad and Enginos Nigeria Limited are alleged to have had possession of over N2.3 billion, which the EFCC claims indirectly represented the proceeds of Sirika’s criminal conduct.
These offences, committed in Abuja between August 2022 and May 2023, contravene several sections of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, the EFCC Act, and the Penal Code Act.
The prosecution counsel, Olwaleke Atolagbe, requested dates for calling the 12 witnesses listed in the case. Sirika's counsel, Michael Numa, SAN, urged the court to grant bail in liberal terms, noting that Sirika had already been granted bail in the related case and had fulfilled the conditions. The prosecution did not oppose the bail applications, stating their primary interest in the trial.
The court granted the bail applications, allowing both Sirika and his brother to await trial out of custody.
