N19.4bn fraud: Sirika, brother released on N200m bail

Justice Suleiman Belgore of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, on Thursday granted the former minister of aviation, Hadi Sirika, and his brother, Ahmad Abubakar Sirika, bail in the sum of N100 million each and two sureties in like sum.

One of the sureties must own a landed property in the Federal Capital Territory.

The court also held that the defendants are not to travel outside the shores of Nigeria without the permission of the court.

While delivering the ruling on the bail application, Justice Belgore held,  “I see no reason to depart from the conditions granted by my learned brother”.

He went ahead to grant them bail in the same condition as Justice Sylvanus Oriji, of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja.

Ruling on the motion on notice for the 1st defendant, Hadi Sirika, the court held, “The prosecution filed no counter affidavit. He is already on administrative bail, he met all the bail applications, he continues to abide by the bail conditions, he has never been convicted of any criminal offence in Nigeria; he is a recipient of National honours, he has an aged mother he is catering to; an investigation in the case has been completed.

“It is my resolution that this applicant deserves to be admitted to bail and I so do,” Justice Belgore said.

Concerning Sirika’s brother, Ahmad, the trial judge granted him bail in the same terms and conditions as the 1st defendant (Sirika).

The Sirika brothers, and the company, Enginos Nigeria Limited, are facing 10 amended charge bordering on contract fraud to the tune of N19.4bn.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had accused Sirika of conferring undue advantage on his brother and his company, Enginos Nigeria Limited.

The contracts for which the sums were paid for, were also said to be abandoned with no trace of work done to date.

After the duo were arraigned, the EFCC had read out the charges to them, which they pled not guilty to.

Recall that Sirika, his daughter Fatimah and son-in-law, Jalal Hamma and Al-Buraq Investment Limited, were previously arraigned on May 9, before Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama in Abuja.