Senator Hadi Abubakar Sirika, former Minister of Aviation & Aerospace Development
A Federal High Court at the Maitama district, in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, has adjourned the trial of former Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Abubakar Sirika, his daughter, Fatima Hadi Sirika, and his son-in-law, Hamma Jalal Sule, to Tuesday, 9th of December 2025.
Justice S.C. Oriji fixed the date for the adoption of written addresses by the prosecutors and defense counsels in the trial within trial of the N2.7 billion fraud case filed against the trio by the federal government of Nigeria, FGN, through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Senator Sirika, his daughter, and son-in-law are facing a six-count charge bordering on abuse of office and money laundering.
The EFCC accused Sirika of allegedly conferring undue advantage on Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, a company linked to his daughter, who was an employee of the nation’s petroleum corporation, NPC, while her father was serving as Aviation Minister.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, Justice Oriji directed counsel for both sides to file and exchange their written addresses to determine compliance with Sections 15(4) and 17(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
The directive followed claims by the second and third defendants that the statements they made to EFCC investigators were not given voluntarily.
The court consequently ordered a trial within the trial to determine the voluntariness of those statements.
EFCC’s lead investigator, Assistant Commander Christopher Odofin, told the court that both Fatima and Sule were invited, not arrested, and made their statements in the presence of their lawyers without any form of coercion, inducement, or intimidation.
Justice Oriji further ordered that the defendants submit their written addresses within 14 days from 29th October 2025, while the prosecution must file its response within 14 days of receiving the defendants’ submissions.
The case is scheduled for Tuesday, 9th December 2025, for the adoption of the written addresses.
By providence, while the fire-works were raging in a high court in Abuja, on one of about six cases against Senator Sirika, bordering on gross financial misdemeanor during his tenure as minister of Aviation, the government of Katsina State, on the same day issued a media statement that announced the distinguished Senator’s appointment as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairperson of the Governing Council of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University (UMYU), Katsina State’
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