Court imposes travel ban on Sirika and her daughter

The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Thursday banned former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, his daughter Fatimah and son-in-law Jalal Hamma from traveling outside the country.

Justice Sylvanus Orji ruled that they should not leave the country until their N2.7 billion fraud trial is concluded.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday charged him with six counts bordering on N2.7 billion fraud.

They were prosecuted together with Al-Buraq Investment Ltd.

The anti-graft agency alleged that Sirika abused his position by awarding a consultancy contract worth N1.3 billion for Nigerian Air Start-up to Tianero Nigeria Limited.

The commission said that by doing so, the former minister acted contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Act, 2000.

In another charge, the anti-graft agency alleged that on or about August 18, 2022, in Abuja, Sirika “used his position to confer an unfair advantage on Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, whose alter ego, Fatima Hadi Sirika and Jalal Sule Hamma, are his daughter and son-in-law respectively, by using their position to influence the award of the contract for the expansion of the apron at Katsina Airport for the sum of N1,498,300,750.00.”

The anti-graft agency said that by doing so, Sirika violated Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Act, 2000 and was subject to punishment under the same section.

In the third charge, the EFCC charged Sirika with criminal breach of trust “while he was Minister of Aviation and in his capacity as a public servant on or about August 18, 2022, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court ”.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.

Following a bail application filed by the defense lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), each of the accused were granted bail of N100 million with two sureties of the same sum.

The judge said one of the guarantors must be the owner of land with valid title deeds within the Federal Capital Territory.

The judge also held that the guarantors must file an affidavit of means while prohibiting the defendants from traveling outside the country’s coasts without permission.

Judge Orji added that failure to comply with bail conditions would allow the accused to remain in a correctional centre.

He ruled: “I admit to the first, second and third defendants a bond of 100 million each with two guarantees of the same amount.

“One of the guarantors must have a property within the Federal Capital Territory. The accused must not travel outside the country.

“Anyone of them who cannot comply with the conditions of bail will be committed to the prison.”

The trial was later set for June 10, 11 and 20.