Jun 2, 2026

Court Defers Ruling on Bid to Halt Hadi Sirika's N2.8 Billion Fraud Trial

By Afolabi Olaiya Idowu in news

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ABUJA, Nigeria — A Federal Capital Territory High Court on Tuesday deferred a decision on whether to discontinue the high-profile fraud trial of former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika until the final judgment in the case.

Justice S.C. Oriji ruled that arguments seeking to stop further evidence, expunge exhibits and dismiss the charges were too intertwined with the substantive matter to decide separately.

He adjourned proceedings to June 10 for continuation of the trial.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting Sirika alongside his daughter, Fatima Hadi Sirika, and son-in-law, Hamma Jalal Sule.

The amended six-count charge accuses them of contract fraud involving Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, a company linked to Sirika’s daughter, to the tune of 2.825 billion naira ($1.7 million at current exchange rates).

Sanusi Musa, counsel to Sule, the third defendant, filed the motion.

He argued that the EFCC’s case rested on an incomplete investigation and urged the court to bar additional prosecution evidence while throwing out what had already been presented.

Rotimi Jacobs, leading the prosecution team, pushed back.

He cited Section 379, subsection 2 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, which allows additional evidence before judgment.

Jacobs referenced multiple Supreme Court and Court of Appeal precedents supporting this position.

Justice Oriji, relying on Section 396, subsection 2 of the same law, noted that while defendants may raise objections to a charge at any time before judgment, such challenges should often be resolved alongside the main case.

“This motion is not challenging the validity of the charge,” the judge said. “However, the issues and prayers in this application are inextricably tied or connected to the determination of the charge.

Therefore, in my view, judicial prudence dictates that it is better to deliver the ruling on the motion along with the judgment on the charge after the trial, and I so direct.”

The case has drawn significant public attention as one of several corruption probes involving former officials from the previous administration.

Prosecutors allege Sirika abused his office by awarding aviation contracts, including apron extensions and other infrastructure projects, to his family’s company in ways that favored them unfairly.

Earlier proceedings saw some EFCC evidence rejected by the court, adding layers of complexity to what has become a protracted legal battle.

Sirika and his co-defendants have maintained their innocence, with the family securing bail in previous hearings.

Legal analysts suggest the judge’s approach reflects a growing preference in Nigerian courts for efficiency under the ACJA framework—avoiding fragmented rulings that could lead to multiple appeals and further delays in high-stakes economic crime cases.

The EFCC has not commented publicly on Tuesday’s development. Supporters of the defendants view the motion as a necessary check against what they call prosecutorial overreach, while anti-corruption advocates argue that such trials are essential to restoring public trust in governance.

The June 10 hearing will likely see more witnesses or additional documentation as the prosecution continues building its case.

For many Nigerians weary of grand corruption scandals, the outcome could signal whether accountability mechanisms can effectively address alleged abuse at the highest levels of government.

This matter remains ongoing, with broader implications for aviation sector integrity and family involvement in public contracts. (Word count: 498)