A Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, granted the former Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Hadi Abubakar Sirika, bail on Thursday.
The ex-minister’s daughter, Fatimah Hadi Sirika, and his inlaw, Jalal Hamma were also granted bail by the court, according to The Punch.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission charged Sirika, his daughter, son-in-law, and Al-Duraq Investment Ltd with fraud in connection with Nigerian Air’s botched project.
Following the read-out of all the charges against the defendants, they pleaded not guilty to all of them before the trial judge, Justice Sylvanus Orji granted them bail.
Sirika was locked up on a 6-count amended criminal charge before Justice Oriji.
Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs SAN, had informed the court of EFCC’s amended charge dated May 7, filed on May 8, which was not opposed by the defendant’s counsel.
The defendant’s lead counsel, Kanu Agabi, who is Sirika’s counsel, informed the court of his client’s bail application dated May 6.
Similarly, the other defendants moved their bail applications and prayed for the court to be liberal in the bail conditions.
On the other hand, Jacobs told the court that all of the defendants had been granted provisional bail and pleaded for them to be released on condition they appeared at trial.
Justice Orji granted bail to each defendant in the sum of 100 million, with two sureties, after listening to all the parties.
In addition, the sureties must own a landed property with valid land titles in like sum within the Federal Capital Territory, he added.
The judge also held that the sureties must depose to an affidavit of means while he barred the defendants from traveling outside the shores of the country without its permission.
According to Justice Orji, Failure to meet bail conditions will result in a stay in a correctional facility for the defendants.
He said, “I admit the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd defendant to bail in the sum of 100 million each with 2 sureties of like sum.
“One of the sureties must have a landed property within the Federal Capital Territory.
“The defendants must not travel outside the country.
“Any of them who is unable to fulfill the bail conditions will be remanded in the correctional centre.”
Subsequently, the trial was scheduled for 10, 11 and 20 June.
