Former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, accompanied by his daughter Fatima, made their appearance at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, as they faced arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on charges of alleged fraud and abuse of office. Their arrival at the court was noted around 9 am on Thursday.

The charges leveled against them amount to N2.7 billion, detailed in a six-count amended charge presently being read to them. Joining Sirika and his daughter in the proceedings are his son-in-law, Jalal Sule Hamma, and Al-Duraq Investment Limited, all of whom have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Rotimi Jacobs, the EFCC's counsel, urged the court to expedite the hearing process, emphasizing that the defendants had previously been granted bail by the commission but failed to appear as required on April 19th. With their presence in court now, Jacobs stressed the importance of ensuring their continued appearance to prevent unnecessary delays in the case.

In their defense, Sirika's counsel, Kanu Agabi, appealed to the judge for leniency in granting bail, requesting that Sirika be allowed bail on self-recognition. Mahmoud Magaji, representing the second defendant, highlighted his client's status as a nursing mother and urged the court to grant bail on compassionate grounds.