Hadi Sirika, former Minister of Aviation, and his brother, Ahmad, have pleaded not guilty to a new fraud charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Garki, Abuja.
The new arraignment took held on Thursday before Justice Sulaiman Belgore.
According to Creebhills, Sirika and his daughter were charged before Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the FCT High Court for fraudulent actions related to the Nigeria Air disaster.
In the EFCC fresh 10-count charge, Sirika was accused of conferring unfair advantage on his brother while using him as leverage to divert billions from the Federal Ministry of Aviation.
The anti-graft agency also alleged that the former Minister engaged in the “illegal award” of contracts.
Count one of the charges reads,
“That you HADI ABUBAKAR SIRIKA, while being Minister of Aviation, on or about 3rd November 2022, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did use your position to confer an unfair advantage upon ENGINOS NIGERIA LIMITED whose alter ego, AHMAD ABUBAKAR SIRIKA is your blood brother, by using your position to influence the award to them, the contract for the establishment of Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre at Katsina Airport for the sum of N3,811,497,685.00 (Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Eleven Million, Four Hundred and Ninety-Seven Thousand, Six Hundred and Eighty-Five Naira 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.”
