The arraignment scheduled for former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, his brother Ahmad Sirika, and Enginos Nigeria Limited before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Garki, Abuja, on Monday, faced a delay due to the defendants’ absence. O.A. Atolagbe, representing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), informed the court that the defendants’ counsel requested an adjournment as they had not been served and were not in Abuja due to administrative bail. The defense counsel, Olaniyi Anjorin, apologized to the court for his clients’ absence. Consequently, Justice Suleiman Belgore adjourned the matter to May 23 for the defendants’ arraignment.
Sirika, his brother, and Enginos Nigeria Limited are facing an eight-count criminal charge relating to fraud amounting to N19.4 billion allegedly involving several aviation ministry contracts. The EFCC alleges that Sirika used his ministerial position to benefit his brother’s company between April 2022 and March 2023 in Abuja. Abubakar, identified as the company’s Managing Director, is accused of being the sole signatory to its bank accounts.
The EFCC alleges that Sirika awarded contracts, including the construction of a Terminal Building at Katsina Airport and the establishment of a Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre to Enginos Nigeria Limited owned by his brother. Additionally, Sirika is accused of awarding contracts for the Procurement and Installation of equipment for the Aviation House in Abuja to Ahmad and Enginos. These actions are said to contravene section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Between August 2022 and May 2023, Ahmad and Enginos are accused of having an aggregate sum of N2,337,840,674.1, which allegedly represented proceeds of criminal conduct by Sirika. Ahmad was also previously detained by the EFCC in connection with payments made to Enginos Nigerian Limited’s bank account by the former minister for contracts that remain undone.
Sirika, along with his daughter, son-in-law, and Al-Buraq Investment Limited, were previously arraigned on fraud charges related to the Nigerian Air project. They pled not guilty and were granted bail. Sirika is also accused of conferring unfair advantage upon Tianaero Nigeria Limited, associated with Professor Gabriel Tilmann, an associate of his.
