Former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an allegation of money laundering to the tune of N8 billion.
The PUNCH reports that Mr Sirika arrived at the Federal Capital Territory Command of the EFCC Wuse Office at about 1:00 pm on Tuesday.
The former minister is currently being questioned by the EFCC operatives on alleged fraudulent contracts awarded by him to a company known as Engirios Nigeria Limited, owned by his younger brother, Abubakar Sirika.
The newspaper quoted the commission sources saying: “The N8,069,176,864.00 aviation ministry contract fraud was carried out in connivance with his younger brother, Abubakar Sirika, through the latter’s company.”
In February, it was reported that the EFCC was investigating the aviation ministry under Mr Sirika for alleged conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds and contract inflation.
Mr Abubakar is reported to be the company’s MD/CEO, and sole signatory to the company’s two accounts in Zenith Bank and Union Bank.
The younger Sirika was picked up and detained by the commission in connection with N3,212,258,930.18 paid to his company, Engirios Nigerian Limited’s bank account by the former minister for work not done on any of the contract items to date.
The younger Sirika was arrested on Sunday, February 4, and has since been cooperating with the commission in its probe of his elder brother’s tenure.
An anonymous EFCC investigator said, “Hadi awarded contracts to his brother Abubakar, knowing that the latter is a civil servant, a deputy director on Level 16 in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, where he has been working since 2000 till date.
“The first of the contracts from the former minister to Engirios Nigeria Limited was on August 18, 2022, for the construction of the Terminal Building in Katsina Airport, at a cost of N1,345,586,500.00. The second was awarded on November 3, 2022, for the establishment of the Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Center in Katsina Airport, valued at N3, 811,497,685.00.
“The third contract was on February 3, 2023, for the procurement and installation of lifts, air conditioners, and a power generator’s house in Aviation House, Abuja, at the cost of N615,195,275.000, while the fourth was awarded on May 5, 2023, for the procurement of Magnus aircraft and a simulator for the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, at the cost of N2, 296,897,404.00.
“Out of the total contract sum, the ex-minister paid out N3,212,258,930.18 to his younger brother’s Engirios Nigerian Limited, who, upon receipt of the payment, transferred it to different companies and individuals. There is no trace of work done on any of the contract items to date.
“Abubakar Sirika is currently in our custody at the Headquarters, and he is providing us with more useful information on the financial activities of the Aviation Ministry under the supervision of his older brother, Hadi Sirika.”
