By Abiola Olawale
Former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, is reportedly being grilled by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over an alleged link to about N8 billion money laundering case.
Mr Sirika was said to have arrived at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the EFCC at about 1:00 pm on Tuesday, April 23.
An insider source privy to the matter said Sirika was invited for questioning over alleged fraudulent contracts awarded by him to a company known as Engirios Nigeria Limited, allegedly owned by his younger sibling, Abubakar Sirika.
The source said the EFCC is reportedly investigating four aviation contracts awarded by the former minister to the company.
The source said the former minister’s younger sibling, Abubakar, is listed as the company’s managing director and chief executive officer, and is also the sole signatory to the company’s two accounts, domiciled in Zenith and Union Banks.
The source also disclosed that the EFCC had allegedly arrested Abubakar Sirika, and remained in detention over an alleged connection with N3.2 billion paid to his company’s bank account by the former minister.
The source said Abubakar Sirika, was arrested on Sunday, February 4, and has been assisting the EFCC in its probe of the Aviation Ministry’s financial expenditures during Sirika’s tenure.
The source said: “Yes, that was Hadi Sirika, who was taken into our FCT custody. He is currently meeting with EFCC investigators over the alleged N8,069,176,864.00 aviation ministry contract fraud.
“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.
“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 Centre 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 contract 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 company, 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.”
