EFCC Apprehends Former Aviation Minister, Sirika, for Alleged N8bn Fraud

The former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has been detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with an ongoing investigation into money laundering amounting to N8,069,176,864.00.

On Tuesday afternoon, Sirika was seen arriving at the EFCC’s Federal Capital Territory Command office in Abuja, where he is currently meeting with investigators to address allegations of fraudulent contracts awarded to a company owned by his younger brother.

Sources within the anti-graft agency, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that Sirika is being questioned regarding the alleged aviation ministry contract fraud, which is said to have involved collaboration with his sibling’s company. 

This investigation comes after the EFCC had been looking into various activities within the Aviation Ministry during Sirika’s tenure, including conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, and contract inflation.

Hadi Sirika, the ex-Minister of Aviation, has been apprehended by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) due to an ongoing investigation concerning money laundering totaling N8,069,176,864.00.

Sirika was observed arriving at the EFCC’s Federal Capital Territory Command office in Abuja on Tuesday afternoon, where he is presently in discussions with investigators to address accusations of fraudulent contracts granted to a company owned by his younger brother.

Sources from the anti-graft agency, who chose to remain anonymous, verified that Sirika is being interrogated regarding the purported aviation ministry contract fraud, which allegedly involved cooperation with his brother’s company.

This inquiry follows the EFCC’s scrutiny of various activities within the Aviation Ministry during Sirika’s term, encompassing conspiracy, abuse of authority, misappropriation of public funds, and contract overpricing.

A reliable source disclosed to our correspondent on Tuesday that the anti-graft commission is examining the Aviation Ministry’s operations for conspiracy, abuse of power, misappropriation of public funds, and contract overpricing.

Additionally, criminal breaches of trust and money laundering totaling N8,069,176,864.00 during Sirika’s tenure in office are under investigation.

The amount in question pertains to four aviation contracts from the former minister to a company named Engirios Nigeria Limited, managed by his younger brother, Abubakar Sirika.

Abubakar, besides being identified as the company’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, is reported to be the exclusive signatory to the company’s two accounts held in Zenith and Union Banks.

The ex-minister’s younger brother, Abubakar Sirika, has been apprehended and detained by the commission due to the transfer of N3,212,258,930.18 to his company, Engirios Nigerian Limited’s, bank account by the former minister, with no evidence of work completed on the contracted projects thus far.

Abubakar Sirika, who was taken into custody on February 4, has been cooperating with the commission in its investigation of the financial transactions of the Aviation Ministry during his brother’s tenure as the minister.

An EFCC investigator disclosed that they are looking into a case of money laundering amounting to N8,069,176,864.00 associated with former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika, who allegedly awarded contracts to his brother Abubakar despite knowing that he is a civil servant in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

Abubakar Sirika is presently in our possession at the headquarters, where he is furnishing us with additional valuable details regarding the financial operations of the Aviation Ministry under the guidance of his elder sibling, Hadi Sirika.