Our reporter/ The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will on Thursday arraign former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, before Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maitama.
Sirika, who served under the administration of former president Muhammadu Buhari, would be arraigned on a six-count amended charge alongside his daughter, Fatima; Jalal Hamma and Al-Duraq Investment Ltd, for alleged abuse of office.
According to the charge sheet, Sirika allegedly used his position as the Minister of Aviation to fraudulently award contracts to his daughter, son in-law and associates.
Count one 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 N1,326,731,470.97 (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.”
Count five: “That you FATIMA HADI SIRIKA, JALAL SULE HAMMA and AL BURAQ GLOBAL INVESTMENT LTD. 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 (One Billion, Three Hundred and Ten Million, One Hundred and Forty-Two Thousand, Fifty-one, Naira, Sixteen kobo Only) 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.”
Count six read: “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 this Honourable Court entrusted with certain property to wit, 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), 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 is 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.”
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