Former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, her daughter, Fatimah and his son in law were arraigned before Justice Silvanus Oriji of a Federal High Court Abuja on a six count charge.

 

The defendants were brought into the court by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

 

GALAXY TV reports that Sirika, his daughter and son in law were arraigned for an alleged N2.7bn fraud in connection with the botched Nigerian Air project.

 

At the hearing of the matter on Thursday,. The Prosecution Counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN informed the court of an amended charge and this took a took a while between him and the Presiding Judge,. Who insisted that the Prosecution has come up with an affidavit and motion for the charge in order to create room for response from the defendant?

 

After the matter was resolved, the six count charge were read to the three accused persons who pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

 

Counsel to the first Defendant and the former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, Kanu.Agabi SAN informed the court of an application for the bail of his client, just as he prayed the court to grant in an administrative bail based on his status as a former Minister.

 

Counsels to the second and third defendants equally came up with same and prayed the court to be magnanimous in the bail conditions.

 

Justice Orji therefore admitted the three respondents to bail in the sum of #100 million each, with two sureties, residing within the Federal Capital Territory, one of whom  must have landed property in Abuja with valid C of O.

 

Also, the Judge added that the sureties must be a responsible citizens with a valid residential address that must be valid.

 

Justice Orji further prohibited the defendants from travelling outside the country pending the determination of the case.

 

On the other hand, the Court said the defendants will be remanded in the correctional center, in the event that they failed to fulfill the above conditions

 

Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Rotimi Jacobs,.spoke on the bail conditions granted by the court.