The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday tendered documents against the daughter of former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, and son-in-law at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.
The documents confirmed that they are currently employees of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL) and Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), respectively.
The commission arraigned Sirika alongside his daughter, Fatima, son-in-law, Hamma Jalal Sule, and Al-Buraq Investment Limited for alleged N2.7 billion fraud.
Sirika, the EFCC alleged, abused his office as minister by conferring unfair advantage on Al Buraq Global Investment Limited.
The commission added that the ex-minister used his position to influence the award of the contract for the apron extension at Katsina Airport for the sum of N1.4 billion.
This, the prosecution stated, was contrary to the provisions of Sections 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and Section 17 (b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004 as well as Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532 Acts of the Federal Capital Territory and punishable under the same sections.
He, however, had pleaded not guilty to the charge.
At the resumed hearing on Thursday, the prosecution presented its 10th and 11th witnesses (PW10 and PW11), to prove that both second and third defendants are currently on the staff list of both NNPCL and NUPRC, respectively.
The witness, Gabriel Adaba, told the court while being led in his evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, that Sule was employed as a Regulatory Officer 1 on Grade Level 9 by the NUPRC on February 3, 2023.
Adaba, who is NUPRC’s Head of Licensing and Permit, told the court that at the time of Sule’s employment by the Commission, he was the Head of Human Resources in the agency.
He added that the EFCC, on March 14, 2024, requested the NUPRC to furnish it with Sule’s employment records.
“As Head, Human Resources, it was my responsibility to appear before the commission to do that.
“On that day, I was at EFCC to submit his (Sule’s) employment records,” the witness stated.
Justice Sylvanus Orji adjourned the case till June 30 for continuation of the hearing.
