The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has detained Hadi Sirika, the immediate former Minister of Aviation for Nigeria. According to Punch, the arrest stems from an ongoing investigation into allegations of money laundering totaling N8,069,176,864.00.
The PUNCH can confirm that the former Minister of Aviation, who was indicted, arrived at the Federal Capital Territory Command of the EFCC at approximately 1:00 pm on Tuesday. Our correspondent, who was present at the EFCC’s Wuse office, witnessed the embattled former minister’s arrival at the anti-graft agency’s Abuja office.
Subsequently, Sirika is holding a meeting with EFCC investigators to respond to questions regarding purportedly fraudulent contracts he awarded to a company called Engirios Nigeria Limited, which is owned by his younger sibling, Abubakar Sirika.
The development was confirmed to our correspondent on Tuesday by impeccable anti-graft sources, who talked to us under the condition of anonymity because they were not permitted to speak.
“Yes, the person that was brought into our FCT custody was Hadi Sirika. According to a source, he is now meeting with EFCC investigators on the purported fraud involving an aviation ministry contract valued at N8,069,176,864.00.
According to a different source, “His younger brother Abubakar Sirika’s company was used in connivance with him to carry out the N8,069,176,864.00 aviation ministry contract fraud.”
The EFCC was looking into allegations of conspiracy, misuse of authority, contract inflation, and diversion of public monies in the Aviation Ministry under former Minister Sirika, according to an exclusive revelation published in The PUNCH in February.
The Aviation Ministry is being looked into by the anti-graft commission for contract inflation, misappropriation of funds, conspiracy, and abuse of power, according to a reliable source who spoke with punch correspondent on Tuesday.
Other offences include money laundering and criminal breaches of trust totaling N8,069,176,864.00 when Sirika was in government.
The money is allegedly for four aviation contracts that the former minister gave to Engirios Nigeria Limited, a business that is owned by Abubakar Sirika, his younger sibling.
In addition to holding the positions of Managing Director and CEO, Abubakar is purportedly the only signatory on the company’s two accounts, which are located in Zenith and Union Banksy.
It was also disclosed that the commission had detained and arrested the younger brother of the former minister, Abubakar Sirika, in relation to N3,212,258,930.18 that the former minister had transferred to the bank account of his company, Engirios Nigerian Limited.
It was observed that no evidence of work had been completed on any of the contract items up to this point.
According to the source, Abubakar Sirika has been helping the commission with its investigation of the Aviation Ministry’s spending during Mr. Sirika’s term ever since he was arrested on Sunday, February 4.
“We’re investigating a N8,069,176,864.00 money laundering case linked to former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika,” the EFCC investigator stated.
“Knowing that his brother Abubakar works as a federal servant for the Federal Ministry of Water Resources as a deputy director on Level 16 and has done so since 2000, Hadi gave contracts to him.
The first contract that the previous minister gave to Engirios Nigeria Limited was on August 18, 2022, and it was for N1,345,586,500.00 to build the Terminal Building at Katsina Airport. On November 3, 2022, the second contract, for N3, 811,497,685.00, was given for the construction of the Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre at Katsina Airport.
‘The third contract was awarded on February 3, 2023, for the purchase and installation of lifts, air conditioners, and a power generator’s house in Aviation House, Abuja while the fourth contract was awarded on May 5, 2023, for the purchase of Magnus aircraft and a simulator for the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, at a cost of N2, 296,897,404.00.
“The ex-minister sent his younger brother’s company, Engirios Nigerian Limited, N3,212,258,930.18 out of the entire contract amount. After receiving the money, the company disbursed it to other businesses and individuals. No evidence of work has been done on any of the contract items up to this point.
“Abubakar Sirika is under the supervision of his elder brother, Hadi Sirika, and is currently in our custody at the Headquarters. He is giving us more useful information on the financial activities of the Aviation Ministry.”
