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Ex-Aviation Minister Sirika
By EDITH NWAPI
The trial of former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika and three others was on Monday stalled in an Abuja High Court due to the absence of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel.
The matter was fixed for the Defence to cross examine the third prosecution witness.
Mr Joseph Kwahar, held the brief of Kanu Agabi SAN, Sirika’s counsel.
Also, counsel for the second defendant, Hafiz Matanmi, nformed the court that they received a letter from the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs SAN, seeking the vacation of today’s date.
They added that the prosecution however, wanted the case to continue the matter on Tuesday.
With no objection from the defence team, Justice Belgore then adjourned the matter until Tuesday for cross examination of Mr Isaiah Yesufu, who is the Director of Compliance at the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP)
Sirika is charged alongside his younger brother, Ahmad Abubakar and two companies, Al-Buraq Limited and Enginos Nigeria Limited, on 10 counts bordering on abuse of office, criminal breach of trust, use of position for gratification.
The anti-graft commission alleged that the former minister awarded various contracts to his younger brother to the tune of about N19.4 billion.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. (NAN)
