The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), has arrested former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, over an ongoing N8,069,176,864.00 money-laundering probe.
The indicted former Minister of Aviation arrived at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the EFCC yesterday..
Following his arrival at the anti-graft agency’s Abuja office, Sirika met with EFCC investigators to answer questions on alleged fraudulent contracts awarded by him to a company owned by his younger sibling.
Impeccable anti-graft sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak, confirmed the development to newsmen yesterday.
A 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”.
Another source noted, “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”.
Recall that the EFCC was investigating the activities of the Aviation Ministry under former Minister Sirika for conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, and contract inflation.
The credible source revealed that the anti-graft Commission is investigating the activities of the Aviation Ministry for conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, and contract inflation.
Others are criminal breaches of trust and money laundering amounting to N8,069,176,864.00 during Sirika’s tenure in office.
The sum is said to be for four aviation contracts from the former minister to a company known as Engirios Nigeria Ltd, owned by his younger sibling, Abubakar Sirika.
Apart from being listed as the company’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Abubakar is said to be the sole signatory to the company’s two accounts, domiciled in Zenith and Union Banks.
It was further revealed that the ex-minister’s younger brother, Abubakar Sirika, has been arrested and detained by the Commission in connection with N3,212,258,930.18 paid to his company, Engirios Nigerian Ltd’s bank account by the former minister.
It was noted that there is no trace of work done on any of the contract items to date.
The source said Abubakar Sirika, who was arrested on February 4, has since been assisting the commission in its probe of the Aviation Ministry’s financial expenditures during Sirika’s tenure.
