A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Maitama, Abuja has granted an N100 million bail to the immediate past Minister of Aviation, Hadi Abubakar Sirika; his daughter, Fatima, and son-in-law, Jalal Sule Hamma.
Justice Sylva Oriji granted them bail after their arraignment, along with a firm, Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, on a six-count charge bordering on corrupt practices, to which they pleaded not guilty.
Other conditions attached to the bail include that the defendants produce two sureties, who must be Nigerians, one of whom must own a property within the Abuja Municipality, with a certificate of occupancy (C of O) signed personally by the Minister of the FCT.
Justice Oriji also barred the defendants from traveling outside the country during the pendency of the case.
The judge ordered that the defendants should be remanded in prison custody should they fail to perfect the bail before the day runs out.
Sirika, Fatima, and Hamma are accused of the following:
• Alleged consultancy contract fraud for Nigerian Air (N1,326,731,670.97)
• Alleged corruption related to the contract for Apron Extension at Katsina Airport (N1,498,300,750.00 ); and
• Alleged gratification (N1,310,142,051.16)
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the said fraudulent acts were committed by the suspects between April 2022 and March 2023.
