Hadi Sirika, the ex-Minister of Aviation, found himself in hot water as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) nabbed him yesterday, putting him under their watchful eye as part of the ongoing investigation into the failed Nigeria Air project.
Sources close to the investigation revealed that Sirika is under scrutiny for alleged involvement in various financial misdeeds amounting to a staggering N80.06 billion during his tenure. According to Daily Trust, suspicions include “conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, and contract inflation.”
An EFCC official, preferring anonymity, disclosed, “He was picked up at his Abuja residence by our operatives.” The official further explained, “Yes, he has been taken into custody and is meeting with our detectives to explain how some funds to the tune of N8, 069,176,864.00 were expended in his ministry when he was the minister.”
Despite multiple attempts to contact Sirika, his phone remained out of reach at the time of the incident. The former minister, who had previously served under President Muhammadu Buhari, had an extensive political career, including stints in the House of Representatives and the Senate.
In response to mounting pressure from stakeholders, including aviation unions and civil society organizations, the EFCC is gearing up to summon all directors who served directly under Sirika during his time in office. This move comes following petitions urging a thorough investigation into the aviation sector post the botched national carrier initiative.
Furthermore, the EFCC’s investigation uncovered suspicious transactions linked to Sirika’s younger brother, Abubakar Ahmad Sirika. An estimated N3.2 billion was traced to Abubakar’s company, Engirios Nigeria Limited, raising allegations of money laundering.
Contracts awarded by the former minister to his brother’s firm, totaling N8,069,176,864.00, allegedly remained unfulfilled, with no visible progress on any of the contracted items.