Alleged N4.135Bn Fraud: Court Grants Ex-Minister – Sirika, Daughter, Son-in-law N100M Bail Each

Former Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Abubakar Sirika on Thursday, April 9, 2024 was arraigned along with his daughter, Fatima, his son-in-law, Jalal Sule Hamma and a firm – Al Buraq Global Investment Limited before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), presided over by Justice Sylvanus Orji.

The defendants denied the allegation of corrupt practices involving about N4.135 billion brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on behalf of the federal government.

Following their denial of the fraud charges, their respective lawyers moved applications for their bail which was granted by the Judge.

While Mr Kanu Agabi, SAN, stood for Sirika, Mahmoud Magaji, SAN was counsel to Fatima while Sunusi Musa, SAN, represented Jalal Sule Hamma as counsel just as Micheal Numa, SAN, represented Al Buraq Global Investment Limited at the court.

Even though the bail request was opposed by the Counsel to the Federal Government, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, the court admitted the three defendants to bail in the sum of N100M and two sureties each in the like sum.

Justice Orji however ruled that that the sureties must be responsible citizens with verifiable home addresses while one of them must have landed property with Certificate of Occupancy signed by the FCT Minister and also ruled that the defendants must not travel out of the country without the express permission of the court.

Justice Orji ordered that if the defendant are unable to perfect their bail conditions, they should be remanded in prison custody till the time of perfection of bail conditions and fixed June 10 and 11, 2024 for resumption of trial of the defendants.

Part of the accusations against them were consultancy contract fraud for the Nigerian Air (N1,326,731,670.97), contract for Apron Extension at Katsina Airport (N1,498,300,750.00 ); and  gratification (N1,310,142,051.16)

The charge also indicated that the defendants committed the alleged offense between April 2022 and March 2023 contrary to Sections 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, to Section 17 (b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004 and Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532 Acts of the Federal Capital Territory and punishable under the same sections.

The charge further read; “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 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 N1,326,731,670.97 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.

“That you – Hadi Abubakar Sirika while being the Minister of Aviation on or about 16th August 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did use your position to confer unfair advantage upon Al Buraq Global Investment Limited 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 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.

“That you Hadi Abubakar Sirika, while being the Minister of Aviation and in such capacity as a public officer on or about 18th August, 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court entrusted with certain property to wit the sum of N1,498,300,750.00 committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property by being dishonestly connected with the illegal award of contract for the Apron Extension at Katsina Airport, to and for the benefit of  Al Buraq Global Investment Limited whose alter ego are Fatima Hadi Sirika and Jalal Sule Hamma, your daughter and son-in-law respectively and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532 Acts of the Federal Capital Territory and punishable under the same section.

“That you – Hadi Abubakar Sirika – while being the Minister of Aviation, Fatima Hadi Sirika while being a public servant and an employee of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd and Jalal Sule Hamma while being a public servant and an employee of Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission on or about 18th August 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did knowingly hold indirectly private interests in the contract for the Apron Extension at Katsina Airport for the sum of N1,498,300,750 00 awarded to Al Buraq Global Investment Limited whose alter ego are Fatima Hadi Sirika and Jalal Sule Hamma which contract was awarded on account of public service and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 12 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under the same section.

“That – you Fatima Hadi Sirika, Jalal Sule Hamma and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited – between 2022 and 2023 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court had possession of an aggregate sum of N1,310,142,051.16  which sum you knew indirectly represented the proceeds of criminal conducts of Hadi Abubakar Sirika who was the minister of Aviation at the time (to wit use of office or position for gratification in respect of the said amount), and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 17 (b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004 and punishable under the same section.

“That you – Hadi Abubakar Sirika – while being the minister of Aviation and in such capacity as a public officer between April 2022 and March 2023 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court entrusted with certain property to wit, the sum of N1,326,731,470.97 committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property by being dishonestly connected with the illegal award of the Consultancy contract for the Nigerian Air Start-up and extension of same to and for the benefit of Tianaero Nigeria Limited whose alter ego Prof. Gabriel Tilmann, your Associate and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code Act. Cap 532 Acts of the Federal Capital Territory and punishable under the same section,” it said.