Former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, is set to face trial as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prepares to arraign him before Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maitama, on Thursday.
News About Nigeria reports that Sirika, who served under the administration of former president Muhammadu Buhari, will 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 is accused of using his position as the Minister of Aviation to fraudulently award contracts to his daughter, son-in-law, and associates.
Count one alleges that Sirika used his position to confer an unfair advantage upon TIANAERO NIGERIA LIMITED, whose alter ego is his associate, PROF. GABRIEL TILMANN, by influencing the award of a consultancy contract for the Nigerian Air Start-up and extension.
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.”
Similar allegations follow in counts two through six, relating to contracts awarded to AL BURAQ GLOBAL INVESTMENT LTD, linked to his daughter and son-in-law.
The charges include accusations of criminal breach of trust, possession of fraudulent documents, and aiding to commit an offence.
