the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has apprehended Hadi Sirika, the former Minister of Aviation, amidst an intensive investigation into alleged money laundering amounting to N8,069,176,864.00.
Sirika, implicated in the probe, arrived at the EFCC’s Federal Capital Territory Command around 1:00 pm on Tuesday, according to reliable sources from The PUNCH.
Eyewitnesses at the EFCC’s Wuse office in Abuja witnessed Sirika’s arrival, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing inquiry. The focus of the investigation revolves around purportedly fraudulent contracts granted by Sirika to Engirios Nigeria Limited, a company owned by his younger sibling, Abubakar Sirika.
Sources within the anti-graft agency, speaking on condition of anonymity, disclosed the gravity of the situation. They confirmed that Sirika’s detention is related to the alleged embezzlement of funds through aviation ministry contracts, with his brother’s company serving as a conduit.
This investigation follows earlier reports by The PUNCH detailing the EFCC’s scrutiny of the Aviation Ministry during Sirika’s tenure. The commission’s inquiries encompass a spectrum of offenses, including conspiracy, abuse of office, misappropriation of public funds, and contract inflation, all totalling the staggering sum of N8,069,176,864.00.
The investigation spotlight falls on four aviation contracts awarded to Engirios Nigeria Limited, purportedly without due process. Notably, Abubakar Sirika, identified as the managing director and CEO of the company, is reported to be the sole signatory to its bank accounts, raising questions about transparency and conflict of interest.
Recent revelations suggest that Abubakar Sirika has been actively cooperating with the EFCC since his arrest in February, shedding light on the financial transactions under his brother’s stewardship at the Aviation Ministry. The commission’s investigators are meticulously examining the flow of funds, particularly the N3,212,258,930.18 transferred to Engirios Nigerian Limited’s accounts, devoid of evidence of corresponding work.
An EFCC official elaborated on the sequence of events, emphasizing the impropriety of the contracts awarded to a civil servant, Abubakar Sirika, by his elder brother, Hadi Sirika. The contracts, ranging from construction projects to procurement endeavors, were allegedly executed without adherence to due process, underscoring the urgency of the investigation.
As the investigation unfolds, the EFCC remains steadfast in its pursuit of accountability and justice, committed to unravelling the intricate web of financial malfeasance within the Aviation Ministry’s corridors of power.
