The arraignment of the immediate-past Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, and his brother, Ahmad Sirika, scheduled for this Tuesday before an Abuja Court, has been postponed due to their absence.
The Sirika brothers were expected to face charges related to an alleged ₦19.4 billion contract fraud but were reportedly not in Abuja.
Oluwaleke Atolagbe, representing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), told the court that, “The defendants have not been served with the charges due to their absence from the jurisdiction.” He requested a deferment from Justice Suleiman Belgore, who presided over the case.
Justice Belgore granted the postponement, setting the new date for arraignment on Thursday, May 23, 2024.
The EFCC has charged the former minister and his brother on eight counts concerning several contracts awarded by the Ministry of Aviation to Enginos Nigeria Limited, a company allegedly owned by their younger brother, Abubakar Sirika.
This is the second recent legal challenge for Sirika, who was also arraigned last week with his daughter, Fatima, and son-in-law before Justice Sylvanus Oriji on charges involving an alleged ₦2.7 billion fraud. The trio has pleaded not guilty and were released on bail.
