NewsNigeriaPoliticsEFCC Arrests Former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika on Allegations of Corruption

Former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika was arrested on Tuesday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on allegations of corruption and financial impropriety.

The arrest follows a thorough investigation into Sirika’s tenure as Aviation Minister, during which several irregularities and discrepancies were uncovered, relating to contract awards, and financial mismanagement within the ministry.

Sources within the EFCC reveal that Sirika is being questioned in connection with suspicious transactions and questionable deals involving government contracts and funds allocated to the aviation sector during his tenure.

The EFCC is accusing Sirika of awarding inflated contracts to the tune of N8 billion to Engirios Nigeria Limited, a company owned by his brother, Abubakar Sirika.

According to investigators, the contracts awarded to Engirios were fraudulent and lacked transparency in the bidding process. Furthermore, there is no evidence that any work was completed on the awarded contracts.

The EFCC suspects that the funds meant for the contracts were instead diverted and laundered through Abubakar Sirika and other associates.

A source in the EFCC said, “We are investigating an N8,069,176,864.00 money laundering case linked to former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika. 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 Center 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 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 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.”

Sirika served as Aviation Minister from 2015 to 2023 and was considered a close ally of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari. His arrest is also related to the Nigeria Air project which hangs in the balance.