Former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has tendered documents against the daughter of former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika, Fatima, and her husband, Hamma Jalal Sule, in an Abuja High Court.
The documents revealed that Fatima and Sule are currently employed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL) and Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), respectively.
The EFCC alleged that Sirika abused his office as minister by conferring unfair advantage on Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, a company linked to his daughter and son-in-law, through the award of a N1.4 billion contract for the apron extension at Katsina Airport.
This act is said to be 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.
During the resumed hearing, the prosecution presented its 10th and 11th witnesses (PW10 and PW11) to prove that both Fatima and Sule are currently on the staff list of NNPCL and NUPRC, respectively. Gabriel Adaba, NUPRC’s Head of Licensing and Permit, testified that Sule was employed as a Regulatory Officer 1 on Grade Level 9 by NUPRC on February 3, 2023.
Abidoye Babatunde, NNPCL’s Deputy Manager of Policy Compliance and Accountability, also testified that Fatima was employed as a graduate trainee on February 14, 2020, and was later promoted.
The case has been adjourned until June 30 for continuation of hearing ¹.
