By Nkechi Eze
The Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, has adjourned the trial of former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Abubakar Sirika, to December 9, 2025, for the adoption of written addresses by both prosecution and defence counsel in the ongoing trial-within-trial.
Sirika is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside his daughter, Fatima Hadi Sirika, and son-in-law, Hamma Jalal Sule, on six counts bordering on abuse of office and money laundering amounting to N2.7 billion. The charges specifically relate to allegations that the former minister conferred undue advantage on Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, a company linked to his daughter, while serving as Minister of Aviation.
In an official statement signed by the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, the court proceedings on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, focused on the trial-within-trial ordered by Justice S.C. Oriji to determine the voluntariness of statements made by the second and third defendants to the EFCC.
According to Oyewale, the development followed claims by the second and third defendants that the statements they made to EFCC operatives were not made voluntarily. Justice Oriji consequently ordered a trial-within-trial to establish whether the statements complied with Sections 15 (4) and 17 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
During his testimony on Monday, October 27, 2025, the EFCC’s twelfth prosecution witness (PW12), Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE II Christopher Odofin, told the court that the second and third defendants were neither arrested nor coerced during their engagement with the Commission.
“They were not arrested but invited to the Commission in the presence of their lawyers. They both gave their statements free of duress, intimidation, and neither were they forced nor promised anything,” Odofin testified.
After listening to submissions from both sides, Justice Oriji directed all parties to file and exchange their written addresses within stipulated timelines.
“The defendants are directed to file and serve their respective written addresses of the trial within trial within 14 days from October 29, 2025. The prosecution is also directed to file and serve its written address within 14 days from the date of service of the last written address of the defendants,” the judge ruled.
With this directive, the court adjourned further hearing to December 9, 2025, for the adoption of the written addresses.
The case against the former aviation minister and his co-defendants is part of the EFCC’s ongoing efforts to ensure accountability and uphold transparency in the management of public funds.
