ALLEGED N19.4 BILLION FRAUD: SIRIKA, BROTHER’S ABSENCE STALLED ARRAIGNMENT

May 14, 2024

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Former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika and his brother Ahmad Sirika were supposed to be arraigned on Tuesday, but they were not present in court and were not in Abuja. This resulted in another case of contract fraud involving ₦19.4 billion.

Oluwaleke Atolagbe, the counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), notified Justice Suleiman Belgore, the presiding court, that the charges in the case have not been served to the former minister or his brother.

As a result, he asked for an adjournment, which the judge allowed.

The arraignment was then scheduled for Thursday, May 23, 2024, by Justice Belgore.

This time, the EFCC is pursuing charges against the former minister and his brother on eight counts totaling ₦19.4 billion.

The money is reportedly for multiple contracts related to the ministry of aviation that the former minister gave to Enginos Nigeria Limited, which is owned by his younger brother Abubakar.

On Thursday, May 9, 2024, Sirika, his daughter Fatima, and son-in-law were arraigned before Justice Sylvanus Oriji about an alleged ₦2.7 billion scam.

They entered a not guilty plea and are currently free on bond in that case.