A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama has admitted additional documentary evidence in the ongoing ₦2.7 billion fraud trial involving former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, and three co-defendants.
Justice S.C. Oriji ruled to accept the documents, despite objections from defence counsels, as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) pressed forward with its amended six-count charge against Sirika, his daughter Fatima Sirika, his son-in-law Jalal Sule Hamma, and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited. The charges include alleged abuse of office, criminal conspiracy, and misappropriation of public funds.
During Monday’s session, EFCC counsel A.O. Atolagbe led the ninth prosecution witness, a retired General Manager of Administration and Human Resources at the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), who confirmed that Hamma had briefly worked at the NNRA before resigning ahead of confirmation of his appointment.
The witness testified that the EFCC had requested employment records and related correspondence on Hamma. In response, the NNRA provided appointment letters, resignation documents, a list of official properties Hamma returned, and other related materials—all of which were presented to the court as evidence.
Defence counsels, including Sanusi Musa, SAN (for Hamma), and M.J. Numa, SAN (for the fourth defendant), challenged the admissibility of the documents, citing irregularities such as lack of proper certification and discrepancies over the origin of a request letter from the “midstream and downstream” oil sector, which the witness had also referenced.
Musa argued the documents lacked relevance, were not certified true copies, and that prosecution failed to show evidence of payment for certification as required under Section 104 of the Evidence Act.
However, Atolagbe countered that the documents were valid, properly identified, and that courts have discretionary powers to admit such evidence, even with attachments.
In his ruling, Justice Oriji dismissed the objections, stating that the witness’s identification of the documents sufficiently authenticated them. He ordered that certification fees be paid where necessary and admitted the documents as exhibits.
The case was adjourned to May 6, 2025 for continuation of trial.
