Justice S.C. Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama, has adjourned the trial within trial of former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Abubakar Sirika, to December 9, 2025, for the adoption of written addresses by both the prosecution and defence.
Sirika is standing trial alongside his daughter, Fatima Hadi Sirika, and son-in-law, Hamma Jalal Sule, on a six-count charge bordering on abuse of office and money laundering to the tune of ₦2.7 billion. The charges relate to allegations that the former minister conferred undue advantage on Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, a company linked to his daughter, during his tenure.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, Justice Oriji directed all counsel to file and serve their written addresses in compliance with Sections 15(4) and 17(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
The directive followed claims by the second and third defendants that the statements they made to operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were not given voluntarily. The judge consequently ordered a trial within trial to determine the voluntariness of the statements.
During his testimony on Monday, October 27, 2025, the EFCC’s twelfth prosecution witness (PW12), Assistant Commander of the EFCC, Christopher Odofin, told the court that both defendants were invited—not arrested—and that their statements were made freely in the presence of their lawyers.
“They both gave their statements without duress, intimidation, or inducement,” Odofin testified.
In his ruling, Justice Oriji ordered that the defendants file and serve their respective written addresses within 14 days from October 29, 2025, while the prosecution must file its own 14 days after receiving the last defence address.
The matter was thereafter adjourned to December 9, 2025, for the adoption of the written addresses.
