Sirika, brother plead not guilty to alleged N19.4bn fraud charges

A former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika; his brother, Ahmad Sirika; and a firm, Enginos Nigeria Limited, have been arraigned on a fresh ten-count charge before Justice Suleman Belgore of the the FCT High Court sitting in Garki, Abuja.

In the new charge, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accused Sirika, his brother, and Enginos of a N19.4 billion airport contract fraud.

At the reading of the charge to the defendants, they all pleaded not guilty.

The fresh 10-count charges read:

COUNT 1
That you HADI ABUBAKAR SIRIKA, while being the Minister of Aviation, on or about 18 August, 2022, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did use your position to confer unfair advantage upon ENGINOS NIGERIA LIMITED whose alter ego, AHMAD ABUBAKAR SIRIKA is your biological brother, by using your position to influence the award to them, the contract for the construction of a Terminal Building at Katsina Airport for the sum of N1,345,586,500.00 (One Billion, Three Hundred and Forty-Five Million, Five Hundred and Eighty-Six Thousand, Five Hundred Naira Only) 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 2
That you HADI ABUBAKAR SIRIKA, while being Minister of Aviation, on or about 3rd November 2022, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did use your position to confer unfair advantage upon ENGINOS NIGERIA LIMITED whose alter ego, AHMAD ABUBAKAR SIRIKA is your biological brother, by using your position to influence the award to them, the contract for the establishment of Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre at Katsina Airport for the sum of N3,811,497,685.00 (Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Eleven Million, Four Hundred and Ninety-Seven Thousand, Six Hundred and Eighty-Five Naira Only) 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 Minister of Aviation, on or about 5th May 2023, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did use your position to confer unfair advantage upon ENGINOS NIGERIA LIMITED whose alter ego, AHMAD ABUBAKAR SIRIKA is your blood brother, by using your position to influence the award to them, the contract for the Procurement and Installation of Lift and Air Conditioners and Power Generators for Aviation House, Abuja for the sum of N615,195,275.00 (Six Hundred and Fifteen Million, One Hundred and Ninety-Five Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifteen Million Only) 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 4
That you AHMAD ABUBAKAR SIRIKA and ENGINOS NIGERIA LIMITED between August, 2022 and May, 2023 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, had possession of an aggregate sum of N2,337,840,674.16 (Two Billion, Three Hundred and Thirty-Seven Million, Eight Hundred and Forty Thousand, Six Hundred and Seventy-Four Naira, Sixteen Kobo) 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 5
That you HADI ABUBAKAR SIRIKA, while being the Minister of Aviation and in such capacity as a public officer on or about 18 August, 2022, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court entrusted with certain property to wit, the sum of N1,345,586,500.00 (One Billion, Three Hundred and Forty Five Million, Five Hundred and Eighty Six Thousand, Five Hundred Naira Only), committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property by being dishonestly connected with the illegal award of contract for the construction of a Terminal Building at Katsina Airport. to and for the benefit of ENGINOS NIGERIA LIMITED whose alter ego is AHMAD ABUBAKAR SIRIKA, your biological brother 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 6
That you HADI ABUBAKAR SIRIKA, while being the Minister of Aviation and in such capacity as a public officer on or about 3rd November, 2022, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court entrusted with certain property to wit, the sum of N3,811,497,685.00 (Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Eleven Million, Four Hundred and Ninety-Seven Thousand, Six Hundred and Eighty-Five Naira Only), committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property by being dishonestly connected with the illegal award of contract for the establishment of Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre at Katsina Airport, to and for the benefit of ENGINOS NIGERIA LIMITED whose alter ego is AHMAD ABUBAKAR SIRIKA, your biological brother 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.