9th May, 2024
By Taiwo Okanlawon
The immediate past Minister of Aviation, Hadi Abubakar Sirika has been granted bail after he was arraigned over alleged corrupt practices involving about N4.135 billion case brought against him by the federal government.
Sirika was arraigned before Justice Sylvanus Oriji along with his daughter, Fatima, his son-in-law, Jalal Sule Hamma, and a firm – Al Buraq Global Investment Limited to which they pleaded not guilty.
The daughter and son-in-law also pleaded not guilty to the six-count charges when read to them.
Justice Sylva Oriji granted them N100million bail after their arraignment, along with a firm, on a six-count charge bordering on corrupt practices, to which they pleaded not guilty.
Other conditions attached to the bail include that the defendants produce two sureties, who must be Nigerians, one of whom must own a property within the Abuja Municipality, with a certificate of occupancy (C of O) signed personally by the Minister of the FCT.
Justice Oriji also barred the defendants from traveling outside the country during the pendency of the case.
The judge ordered that the defendanta should be remanded in prison custody should they fail to perfect the bail before the day runs out.
The court fixed June 10 and 11 for the resumption of the trial of the defendants.
Part of the accusations against them include consultancy contract fraud for 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 indicated that the defendants committed the alleged offense between April 2022 and March 2023.
It also indicated that all the offenses are contrary to Sections 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses 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 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 offense contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses 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 offense contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses 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 the 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 offense 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 offense contrary to Section 12 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses 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 offense 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 offense contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code Act. Cap 532 Acts of the Federal Capital Territory and punishable under the same section.”