By Akinwale Kasali
Hadi Sirika, the immediate past Aviation Minister will appear in Court today, Thursday, May 9, 2024, over allegations of corruption while he was in office.
The former Minister was slammed with xharges bordering on Corruption by anti graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
In what seems like a family affair, he is being prosecuted alongside his daughter, Fatima, and son-in-law, Jamaica Sule Hamma and their company, Al Buraq Global Investment Ltd. The four will be prosecuted at a Federal High Court Abuja.
The EFCC slammed six charges against the former minister, his daughter and son-in-law, who are employees of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission as well as their company, Al Buraq Global Investment Limited for alleged diversion of public funds meant for aviation projects.
The charges read: “That you Hadi Abubakar Sirika, while being the Minister of Aviation. between April, 2022 and March, 2023, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did use your position to confer unfair advantage upon Tianaero Nigeria Limited whose alter ego, Prof. Gabriel Tilmann is your Associate by using your position to influence the award to them, the Consultancy contract for the Nigerian Air start-up and extension on of same for the sum of N1.326,731,470.97 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.
“That you Hadi Abubakar Sirika, while being the Minister of Aviation, on or about 18th August, 2022, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did use your position to confer unfair advantage upon Al Buraq Global Investment Ltd, whose alter ego, Fatima Hadi Sirika and Jalal Sule Hamma are your daughter and son-in-law respectively, by using your position to influence the award to them, the contract for the Apron Extension at Katsina Airport for the sum of N1.498,300,750.00 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.
“Count 3 : That you Hadi Abubakar Sirika, while being the Minister of Aviation and in such capacity as a public officer on or about 18 the of August, 2022, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court entrusted with certain property to wit the sum of N1.498,300,750.00 committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property by being dishonestly connected with the illegal award of contract for the Apron Extension at Katsina Airport, to and for the benefit of Al Buraq Global Investment Ltd, whose alter ego, Fatima Hadi Sirika and Jalal Sule Hamma, your daughter and son-in-law respectively and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap. 532, Acts of the Federal Capital Territory and punishable under the same section.
“Count 4: That you Hadi Abubakar Sirika, while being the Minister of Aviation and Fatima Hadi Sirika while being a public servant and an employee of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd and Jalal Sule Hamma while being a public servant and an employee of Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission on or about 18 of August, 2022, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did knowingly hold indirectly private interests in the contract for the Apron Extension at Katsina Airport for the sum of N1,498,300,750.00 awarded to Al Buraq Global Investment Ltd, whose alter ego, Fatima Hadi Sirika and Jalal Sule Hamma , which contract was awarded on account of public service and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 12 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under the same section.
“Count 5: That you Fatima Hadi Sirika, Jalal Sule Hamma and Al Buraq Global Investment Ltd between 2022 and 2023 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, had possession of an aggregate sum of N1,310,142,051.16, which sum you knew indirectly represented the proceeds of criminal conducts of Hadi Abubakar Sirika, who was the Minister of Aviation at the time (to wit use of office or position for gratification in respect of the said amount), and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 17 (b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004 and punishable under the same section.
“Count 6: That you Hadi Abubakar Sirika, while being the Minister of Aviation and in such capacity as a public officer between April, 2022 and March 2023, in Abuja: within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court entrusted with certain property to wit, the sum of N1,326,731,470.97, committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property by being dishonestly connected with the illegal award of the Consultancy contract for the Nigerian Air Start-up and extension of same to and for the benefit of Tianaero Nigeria Limited whose alter ego is Prof. Gabriel Tilmann, your Associate and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap. 532, Acts of the Federal Capital Territory and punishable under the same section.”
The suspects are expected to plead not guilty to the charges.
It would be recalled that Sirika was investigated by the EFCC over the failed Nigeria Air and the contracts for the Katsina Airport and later freed him temporarily on administrative bail.
