By Abiola Olawale
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is reportedly set to arraign the immediate past Minister of Aviation, Mr Hadi Sirika, his daughter, Fatimah, and two other suspects before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday.
The anti-graft agency is set to arraign the suspects over an alleged N2.7 billion contract fraud reportedly uncovered in the Aviation Ministry.
According to reports, the immediate past Aviation Minister would be facing trial on corruption charges before Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday.
Sirika is billed to appear in court with his three co-defendants, his daughter, Fatima; one Jalal Hamma, and Al-Duraq Investment Ltd, on charges of alleged abuse of positions and money laundering to the tune of over N2.7 billion.
It would be recalled that reports had emerged several weeks ago that Sirika had been reportedly grilled by the EFCC over alleged fraudulent contracts awarded by him to a company known as Engirios Nigeria Limited, allegedly owned by his younger sibling, Abubakar Sirika.
A source privy to the matter said the EFCC reportedly investigated four aviation contracts awarded by the former minister to a company known as Engirios Nigeria Limited.
The source had said the former minister’s younger sibling, Abubakar was listed as the company’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer and was also the sole signatory to the company’s two accounts, domiciled in Zenith and Union Banks.
