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N19.4bn fraud: Sirika, brother’s absence stalls arraignment
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By Francesca Hangeior.
The scheduled 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, on Monday, was stalled due to the defendants’ absence.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s, lawyer, O.A. Atolagbe, informed the court that the defendant’s counsel had appealed that the arraignment be adjourned subject to the judgment of the court as the defendants couldn’t make it to court for a couple of reasons.
He said the defendants haven’t been served and they are also not within the city as they were granted administrative bail.
He 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.”
The defendants’ counsel, Olaniyi Anjorin, apologised to the court for his client’s absence.
“Your lordship I want to sincerely apologise for the absence of the defendants,” he said.
Justice Suleiman Belgore accordingly, adjourned the matter to May 23 for arraignment of the defendants.
Sirika, his brother, Ahmad and his company, Enginos Nigeria Limited, are facing an eight-count criminal charge bordering on fraud to the tune of N19.4billion.
The sum is said to be for several aviation ministry contracts from the former minister to Enginos Nigeria Limited owned by Sirika’s younger brother, Ahmad.
According to the anti-graft agency, Sirika used his position as a minister to confer undue advantage on his brother, company and other entities between April 2022 and March 2023 in Abuja.
Abubakar is said to be the company’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.
He is also said to be the sole signatory to the company’s two accounts, domiciled in Zenith and Union banks.
The anti-graft agency stated that Sirika awarded the construction of a Terminal Building at Katsina Airport for the sum of N1,345,586,500.00 to Enginos Nigeria Limited owned by Ahmad Sirika,
Sirika was also accused of awarding a contract for the establishment of the Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre at Katsina Airport for the sum of N3,811,497,685.00 to his brother and company.
Sirika, among others, was also accused of awarding a contract for the Procurement and Installation of lift and air conditioners and power generators for the Aviation House Abuja, for the sum of N615,195,275.00 to Ahmad and Enginos.
The EFCC stated that these offences are contrary to section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under the same section.
Between August 2022 and May 2023, Ahmad and Enginos, were accused by the EFCC, of having an aggregate sum of N2,337, 840,674.1, which sum indirectly represented the proceeds of criminal conduct of Sirika, 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.
Earlier, Ahmad was also said to have been arrested and detained by the EFCC in connection with N3,212,258,930.18 paid to his company, Enginos Nigerian Limited’s bank account by the former minister.
The contracts for which the sums were paid for, were also said to be undone with no trace of work done to date.
Recall that Sirika, his daughter Fatimah and son-in-law, Jalal Hamma and Al-Buraq Investment Limited, were previously arraigned on May 9, before Justice Sylvanus Orji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama in Abuja.
News
Teenage girl allegedly stabbed parents to de@th, stabbed family dog, sent crime scene photos to friends
A 15-year-old girl from Groningen in the Netherlands was arrested after her parents, Johan and Mathilda, both 53, were found f@tally stabbed last Thursday, June 18, Dutch outlet Algemeen Dagblad reported.
The family’s pet golden retriever also suffered stab wounds in the rampage, the Sun reported.
The dog’s condition is unclear.
The girl took images of her slain parents and then shared the disturbing photos with her friends on WhatsApp after the bloody attack, the Telegraaf reported.
“You could see both of her parents lying on the ground with their eyes open. Her father was lying on the floor, and her mother was on the bed. There was blood visible and a knife,” one student told the outlet in Dutch.
Local police declined to comment further on the images, but encouraged people to never distribute such images online and report them to the police, the reports said.
The girl reportedly struggled with her identity and often pretended to be a dog, crawling around and barking on all fours with other friends in school corridors.
“She wore a tail, dog ears, and gloves,” another classmate told the outlet. “And sometimes she would make barking sounds.”
Johan and Mathilda’s relatives said in a statement obtained by Algemeen Dagblad that they “can hardly comprehend” the murd£rs.
‘We hope that everyone understands that we are deeply affected by the tragic events surrounding the passing of Johan and Mathilda from Meerstad,” family and friends said in a statement through an aid organization.
“But the support and sympathy we have received from many do us good and are heartwarming.”
An investigation into the slayings remains ongoing.
News
OGTV broadcaster: Police recover stolen Lexus RX300 as CP vows “no stone unturned” in murder probe
Ogun State Police Command says it has recovered the Lexus RX300 stolen from the home of slain ex-OGTV broadcaster Mrs Kitan Oyesiku and her security guard in Iyana Agodo Village, Owode-Egba.
The recovery happened during night operations, the command confirmed Monday.
—CP walks the scene himself—
Commissioner of Police Bode Ojajuni visited the crime scene for an on-the-spot assessment. He inspected the premises and got briefings from detectives handling the case.
“CP Ojajuni reiterated the Command’s resolve to leave no stone unturned in unraveling the circumstances surrounding the incident and ensuring that those responsible are identified, apprehended, and brought to justice,” Police PPRO Oluseyi Babaseyi said in a statement.
The visit, according to police, was to evaluate progress in the investigation into the double murder that has rattled the Owode-Egba community.
—What happened that night—
PUNCH Online had reported that a resident raised the alarm over suspicious movements around Oyesiku’s residence. When operatives arrived, they found signs of forced entry.
Inside, the security guard was found dead at his post. Oyesiku’s body was later discovered inside the apartment. Her Lexus RX300 was missing.
Police now say the vehicle has been secured and will serve as key evidence. “It is worthy of note that the vehicle earlier reported missing from the residence, a Lexus RX300, has been recovered by police operatives during the night hours,” Babaseyi confirmed.
—“Intensive investigation ongoing”–
Ojajuni commiserated with Oyesiku’s family and assured Ogun residents that “all available resources are being deployed to track down the perpetrators.”
For now, no arrests have been announced. But with the car recovered and the CP personally monitoring the case, police say they’re closing in.
Oyesiku, a retired broadcaster with Ogun State Television, was remembered by colleagues as a calm voice on air. Her death, alongside her guard’s, has renewed calls for better security for elderly residents living alone in semi-urban areas. [The Punch report rewritten]
News
Tinubu set to Flag-Off Construction of Service Carriageways of the Southern Parkway, from Arterial Road S20 (Oladipo Diya way) to Ring Road II, today
President Tinubu Will Flag-Off Construction of Service Carriageways of the Southern Parkway, from Arterial Road S20 (Oladipo Diya way) to Ring Road II and Collector Road CO1 from Nile University area to Ring Road III (Extension of Body of Benchers road) Today
#FCTRenewedHope
#FCTProjectsCommissioning
Teenage girl allegedly stabbed parents to de@th, stabbed family dog, sent crime scene photos to friends
SEE Dollar to Naira exchange rate today, June 23, 2026
OGTV broadcaster: Police recover stolen Lexus RX300 as CP vows “no stone unturned” in murder probe
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