Alleged N2.7b fraud: Court docket admits extra proof in opposition to Sirika, others

Justice S.C. Oriji of the FCT Excessive Court docket, Maitama on Monday, Could 5, 2024 admitted extra proof within the trial former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika and others for abuse of workplace to the tune of N2.7billion.

The Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee, EFCC is prosecuting the previous minister alongside his daughter Fatima Sirika, son in-law Jalal Sule Hamma and Al Buraq World Funding Restricted on amended six-count cost, bordering on abuse of workplace to the tune of N2.7billion.

Throughout Monday’s continuing, prosecution counsel, A.O Atolagbe, introduced the Ninth Prosecution Witness, PW9. Led in his testimony by prosecution counsel, the witness, a retired Basic Supervisor, Administration and Human Sources of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority, NNRA disclosed that he obtained a letter from the EFCC concerning investigation on the third defendant, Hamma in his capability as GM Administration and Human Sources, requesting that NNRA furnished the Fee with details about Hamma. Journey guides

In his reply, he disclosed that he despatched a letter to the Fee stating that Hamma was a employees of the Authority, duly employed in November 2021, however resigned his appointment after two years and previous to his affirmation. He additional disclosed that a couple of months later, the Authority obtained a letter from the midstream and downstream oil sector, additionally requesting details about Hamma to which he additionally replied.

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Info on Hamma he despatched to the Fee included, his letter of appointment, letter of request for withdrawal of service, approval for withdrawal of service, indication that Hamma paid one month in lieu of discover of disengagement and record of the Authority’s properties in his possession, which he returned. He additional recognized the paperwork saying they have been written on the letterhead paper of NNRA which was endorsed by him.

Atolagbe’s transfer for the paperwork to be tendered in proof was objected to by Hamma’s counsel, Sanusi Musa SAN and that of the fourth defendant, M.J. Numa SAN. Musa had argued that the witness didn’t say that he obtained a letter from Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Fee NUPRC however from the midstream and downstream sector saying additionally that there was no basis laid on that doc whereas giving his proof. Counting on Part 104 of the Proof Act, Musa mentioned that the paperwork weren’t related within the trial and that other than pages one and two of paperwork, all different pages weren’t licensed true copies and that no funds have been made by the prosecution for licensed true copies. Numa, SAN additionally held the identical view.Journey guides

In his reply, Atolagbe famous that the place a doc has attachments, such paperwork should be admitted with the attachments and that even when the attachments have been omitted, the courtroom has the facility to demand for such paperwork to be made out there and to be admitted. He referenced Textile Utilized Merchandise Ltd vs H Stephens Ltd. He additionally argued that the witness talked about ‘upstream’ in his evidence-in-chief, noting that his including ‘midstream’ didn’t invalidate the truth that he obtained such a letter. “He doesn’t work there, furthermore, the witness additionally recognized the paperwork,” he mentioned.

After listening to the submission, Justice Oriji held that the paperwork be admitted in proof, noting that “the truth that the witness flipped by the paperwork and recognized them cures the objections.” On the difficulty of fee for licensed true copies, the decide held that the paperwork can’t be rejected merely on that foundation and ordered that the charges be paid for licensed true copies of the paperwork.

The matter was adjourned until Could 6, 2025 for continuation of trial.