Court grants Sirika, daugther, others N100m bail

A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted N100m bail each to a former Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika, and his daughter, Fatima.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had accused Sirika, Fatima, and son-in-law Jalal Sule Hamma of fraud amounting to N2.7 billion, as stated in the six-count amended charge presented to them.

Al-Duraq Investment Limited, a company linked to the case, is also named as a defendant.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The court, however, granted the defendants bail, asking them to provide two sureties who must have landed properties in Abuja.

The sureties, the court said, must also be responsible citizens, must depose to an affidavit of means, and must own landed properties within the FCT with valid titles.

The court also restricted the defendants from traveling abroad without permission.

The, however, ordered that the defendants should be remanded in prison custody if they failed to meet the bail conditions.

The trial will commence on the 10th, 11th and 20th of June, the court announced.