The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama, on Tuesday, adjourned until Dec. 9 the adoption of written addresses by counsel in the trial-within-trial involving a former Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Abubakar Sirika.
Justice S. C. Oriji gave the ruling during the continuation of hearing in the case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Sirika and two others.
Sirika is standing trial alongside his daughter, Fatima Hadi Sirika, and son-in-law, Jalal Hamma Sule, on a six-count charge bordering on abuse of office and money laundering to the tune of N2.7 billion.
The EFCC alleged that the former minister, while in office, conferred undue advantage on Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, a company linked to his daughter.
During the proceedings, Justice Oriji directed both prosecution and defence counsel to file and exchange their written addresses to determine compliance with Sections 15(4) and 17(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
The order followed claims by the second and third defendants that their statements to EFCC operatives were not made voluntarily, prompting the court to order a trial-within-trial to determine the voluntariness of the statements.
Testifying before the court, the EFCC’s investigating officer and Prosecution Witness 12 (PW12), Assistant Commander of the EFCC, Christopher Odofin, told the court that the defendants were not arrested but invited to the Commission in the presence of their lawyers.
“They both gave their statements freely, without duress, intimidation, or any form of inducement,” Odofin said.
After listening to submissions, Justice Oriji ordered the defendants to file and serve their written addresses within 14 days from Oct. 29, while the prosecution is to respond within 14 days after receiving the defendants’ final addresses.
The case was thereafter adjourned until Dec. 9 for the adoption of written addresses.