The Maitama Division of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on Thursday remanded Hadi Sirika, former aviation minister, and two others to prison after granting them bail at N100 million each.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Mr Sirika before Justice Sylvanus Oriji on six counts of fraud.
Mr Sirika’s daughter, Fatima Sirika, Jalal Hamma and Al-Duraq Investment Ltd. were also arraigned for alleged abuse of office and federal contract procurement fraud.
Mr Sirika was accused of conspiring to award airport contracts to his daughter and allies during his days as aviation minister in violation of federal laws.
The suspects pled not guilty to all charges and were subsequently granted bail by Mr Orji on what their legal representatives contested as stringent terms.
“Bail is granted to each of the defendants first, second, and third in the sum of N100 million with two sureties,” Mr Orji said. The sureties shall be responsible citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who are ordinarily resident in the Federal Capital Territory.”
The judge also required additional conditioners that must be met by the suspects.
”Each surety shall have landed property within Abuja Municipal Area Council covered by a valued certificate of occupancy issued by the FCT minister.
“The residential addresses of the sureties shall be verified by the registrar of the court.
“Each surety shall dispose to an affidavit of means.
“The first to the third defendants shall not travel out of the country while the charge is pending without the permission of the court,” he said.
Justice Oriji added that if any of the three defendants were unable to fulfil the bail conditions, he or she should be remanded at the correctional facility in Kuje, a suburb of the nation’s capital.
He subsequently adjourned the matter until June 10 for commencement of trial.
Rotimi Jacobs led the anti-graft EFCC prosecution team. Kanu Agabi and Mahmoud Magaji represented Mr Sirika and Fatima Sirika, respectively. Sanusi Musa represented Jalal Hamma (the third defendant), while Michael Numa represented Al-Duraq Investment Ltd, the fourth defendant.
NAN