COURT ADMITS MORE EVIDENCE IN N2.7B FRAUD TRIAL OF FMR AVIATION MINISTER, HADI SIRIKA, OTHERS

The trial of former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, over alleged N2.7b fraud continued today, Monday, May 5, 2025, at the FCT High Court in Abuja, as Justice S.C. Oriji admitted more evidence him and his co-defendants. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Sirika alongside his daughter Fatima Sirika, son in-law Jalal Sule Hamma and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited on amended six-count charge, bordering on abuse of office to the tune of N2.7billion. During the proceeding, prosecution counsel, A.O Atolagbe, presented the Ninth Prosecution Witness, retired General Manager, Administration and Human Resources of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority, who disclosed that he received a letter from the EFCC regarding investigation on the third defendant, Hamma in his capacity as GM Administration and Human Resources, requesting that NNRA furnished the Commission with information about Hamma. In his reply, he disclosed that he sent a letter to the Commission stating that Hamma was a staff of the Authority, duly employed in November 2021, but resigned his appointment after two years, prior to his confirmation. He further disclosed that a few months later, the Authority received a letter from the midstream and downstream oil sector, also requesting information about Hamma to which he also replied. Information on Hamma he sent to the Commission included his letter of appointment, letter of request for withdrawal of service, approval for withdrawal of service, indication that Hamma paid one month in lieu of notice of disengagement and list of the Authority’s properties in his possession, which he returned. After listening to the submissions by both prosecution and defence counsel, Justice Oriji held that the documents be admitted in evidence, noting that “the fact that the witness flipped through the documents and identified them cures the objections.” On the issue of payment for certified true copies, the judge held that the documents cannot be rejected simply on that basis and ordered that the fees be paid for certified true copies of the documents. Thereafter, the matter was adjourned till May 6, 2025 for continuation of trial.