A former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, along with his daughter and two others, have been granted bail of ₦100 each with two sureties by the Federal High Court in Abuja. They are facing trial for alleged fraud totaling ₦2.7 billion.
The court specified that the sureties must own properties in Abuja, be law-abiding citizens, and provide sworn affidavits of their financial standing. Additionally, the defendants are prohibited from traveling abroad without prior permission from the court.
Justice Oriji of the Abuja High Court also directed that if the defendants fail to meet the conditions of their bail, they should be remanded in prison.
The charges brought against Hadi Sirika by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) include allegations of misconduct in office and fraudulent contracts awarded during his tenure as Minister.
Sirika, who served during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, appeared in court alongside three others, including his daughter Fatima, Jalal Hamma, and Al-Duraq Investment Ltd.
During his tenure, the Nigeria Air project faced controversy and ultimately failed to materialize. Sirika and the other defendants are accused of misusing their positions and collaborating in defrauding the government of ₦2.7 billion.
Channels Television reported that Sirika allegedly diverted public funds into accounts and companies linked to his daughter, Fatima, his son-in-law, Jalal Hamma, and their associates.
