BREAKING: Court grants ex-Aviation Minister, Sirika, daughter, others N100m bail, bars them from unauthorised trip

A former Aviation Minister, Hadi Abubakar Sirika, on Thursday at the High Court of the Federal Capitol Territory FCT denied the alleged cor...

A former Aviation Minister, Hadi Abubakar Sirika, on Thursday at the High Court of the Federal Capitol Territory FCT denied the alleged corrupt practices involving about N4. 135 billion brought against him by the federal government. Sirika was arraigned before Justice Sylvanus Oriji along with his daughter, Fatima, his son-in-law Jalal Sule Hamma and a firm – Al Buraq Global Investment Limited. The daughter and son-in-law also pleaded not guilty to the six count charges when read to them. They were put on trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on behalf of the federal government. Following their denial of the fraud charges, their respective lawyers moved applications for their bail which was granted by the Judge. Justice origin admitted the three defendants on bail in the sum of N100M and two sureties each in the like sum. The sureties must be responsible citizens with verifiable home addresses, while one of them must have landed property with certificate of occupancy signed by the FCT Minister. The judge ordered that the defendants must not travel out of the country without the express permission of the court. If unable to perfect the bail conditions, Justice Orijin ordered that they be remanded in prison custody till the time of perfection of bail conditions. The court fixed June 11 for trial of the defendants.