SaharaReporters reported on Monday that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had said that it would on Tuesday arraign Sirika and his brother, before Justice Suleiman Belgore of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Garki.
The arraignment of the former minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, his brother, Ahmad Sirika and company – Enginos Nigeria Limited, before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Garki, Abuja, was stalled due to the defendants’ absence.
SaharaReporters reported on Monday that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had said that it would on Tuesday arraign Sirika and his brother, before Justice Suleiman Belgore of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Garki.
When the matter came up on Tuesday, the defendants were absent in court, prompting counsel to EFCC, O.A. Atolagbe, to inform the court that the defendant’s counsel had appealed that the arraignment be adjourned subject to the judgement of the court as the defendants couldn’t make it to court for a couple of reasons.
Atolagbe said, “The defendants are not in court. They are not able to make it to the court this morning but they have not been served and are not within Abuja and could not make it into town this morning.
“The defendant’s counsel reached out to the prosecution that the defendants will be pleading for an adjournment so that they can be served with the charge and take their plea. The defendants are not in custody because they were granted administrative bail. With the intervention of their counsel, they are asking for some time.”
Responding, counsel to the defendants’, Olaniyi Anjorin, tendered unreserved apology to the court for his client’s absence.
“Your lordship I want to sincerely apologise for the absence of the defendants,” he said.
After considering the pleas, Justice Belgore, adjourned the matter to May 23 for arraignment of the defendants.
SaharaReporters in April reported that EFCC arrested the former minister in connection with an ongoing investigation related to money laundering to the tune of N8,069,176,864.00.
In January, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had revealed that the EFCC was investigating the controversial Nigeria Air deal sealed by Sirika.
Sirika, who was the aviation minister under former President Muhammadu Buhari and his brother were slammed with 8-count charges.
SaharaReporters had also reported that a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja granted Sirika, his daughter, and two others N100 million bail each over the alleged N2.7 billion fraud.
Sirika was arraigned alongside his daughter, Fatima; his son-in-law, Jalal Hamma and Al-Duraq Investment Limited before Justice Sylvanus of the FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja.
The court had also ordered that the defendants should be remanded in prison custody should they fail to fulfill their bail conditions.
Justice Oriji had also ordered that the defendants must not travel abroad without the court’s permission.
The anti-graft agency is charging the suspects for alleged N2.7billion contract fraud uncovered in the aviation ministry under Sirika and during the former President Buhari’s administration.
The charge sheet alleged that Sirika used his position as the Minister of Aviation to fraudulently award contracts to his daughter, son in-law and associates.