A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Maitama has admitted new documents as evidence in the ongoing trial of former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who is standing trial over alleged N2.7 billion fraud. Also on trial are his daughter, Fatima Sirika; son-in-law, Jalal Sule Hamma; and their company, Al Buraq Global Investment Limited.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting the defendants on a six-count amended charge, which includes abuse of office and money laundering linked to questionable aviation contracts awarded during Sirika’s time in office.
During the Monday, May 5, 2025 hearing, EFCC counsel A.O. Atolagbe presented the ninth prosecution witness (PW9), a retired General Manager of Administration and Human Resources at the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA). The witness testified that he had responded to inquiries about Jalal Hamma’s employment status at the NNRA, confirming that Hamma had been employed in November 2021 but resigned before his appointment was formally confirmed.“
In response to EFCC’s request, I forwarded all the relevant documents including his letter of appointment, resignation letter, approval for his disengagement, evidence of one-month payment in lieu of notice, and a list of NNRA property he returned,” the witness told the court. “All the documents were on our official letterhead and endorsed by me personally.”
The witness also revealed that similar inquiries were made by regulatory bodies from the oil sector. “We received another request from the midstream and downstream sector concerning his service record, and we provided the same information,” he said.
However, defence counsel Sanusi Musa, SAN, who represents Hamma, objected to the admissibility of the documents, arguing that the documents lacked proper certification and clarity about their origin. “The documents are not certified true copies, except for the first two pages,” Musa argued. “Also, the source of the request—whether it came from the midstream sector or from the NUPRC—was not made clear, which casts doubt on their authenticity.”
Counsel for the fourth defendant, M.J. Numa, SAN, supported the objection, saying, “There is no proper foundation laid for the admission of these documents. The entire set should be excluded.”
In defence of the EFCC’s move, Atolagbe insisted that the documents were valid and should be admitted as a whole. “These documents are attached together and must be treated as such. The witness has identified them clearly,” he said. “The absence of certification on some pages can be remedied, and the court has discretion on this matter. The precedent in Textile Applied Products Ltd vs H Stephens Ltd supports our position.”
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice S.C. Oriji overruled the objections and admitted the documents into evidence. “The witness has sufficiently identified the documents and their contents,” the judge ruled. “While certification was incomplete, it is not enough to render the documents inadmissible. The prosecution is directed to pay for the certification of the remaining pages.”
The trial was adjourned to Tuesday, May 6, 2025, for continuation. The case remains one of the most closely watched corruption trials involving a former cabinet member, as the EFCC intensifies its crackdown on financial misconduct in public service.
