Former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, and his brother, Ahmad Abubakar Sirika, were granted bail on Thursday by Justice Suleiman Belgore of the Federal Capital Territory High Court.
The bail, set at N100 million Naira each, comes with the condition that one of the sureties must own a landed property in the Federal Capital Territory of equal value. Additionally, the defendants are prohibited from traveling outside Nigeria without court permission.
Justice Belgore’s decision to grant bail followed closely the conditions set by Justice Sylvanus Oriji, also of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja. The judge noted, “I see no reason to depart from the conditions granted by my learned brother.”
In his ruling on Hadi Sirika’s bail application, Justice Belgore highlighted the lack of opposition from the prosecution and noted Sirika’s compliance with previous bail conditions, his lack of prior criminal convictions, his receipt of national honors, and his role in caring for his elderly mother. “It is my resolution that this applicant deserves to be admitted to bail and I so do,” Justice Belgore stated.
Similarly, the judge granted bail to Ahmad Abubakar Sirika under the same terms as his brother. The Sirika brothers, along with Enginos Nigeria Limited, face a ten-count amended charge related to contract fraud amounting to N19.4bn.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleges that Hadi Sirika conferred undue advantage on his brother and Enginos Nigeria Limited. The contracts in question were reportedly paid for without any work being completed.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges read by the EFCC after they were docked. The case continues to unfold as investigations have been completed, according to the court.
