Buhari’s minister, Hadi Sirika, arrested for N8bn fraud

Immediate-past Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, has been arrested for an alleged N8.06 billion fraud.

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, confirmed Sirika’s arrest.

Sirika was arrested on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 and kept at the Abuja Command of the commission for interrogation.

The ex-minister’s younger, Abubakar Sirika, is also being questioned over the N8,069,176,864.00 worth of contracts suspected to have been either inflated or unexecuted.

The ex-minister and his younger brother are to face charges on the contract fraud during Sirika’s tenure at the Ministry of Aviation.

Sirika, who served in the Muhammadu Buhari administration for eight years, is is being probed over allegations of conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, contract inflation, criminal breach of trust and money laundering in the ministry.

The N1,345,586,500 construction contract for the Terminal Building in Katsina Airport is one of the issues being looked into by investigators. It was alleged that the contract paid for was not executed.

Also, about N3,212,258,930.18 was traced to Engirios Nigerian Limited, owned by the younger Abubakar Sirika, a level-16 officer in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

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An EFCC document obtained by The Nation on the probe of the ex-minister, read in part: “It is suspected that the ex-Minister, Hadi Sirika, awarded the contracts to his brother Abubakar, knowing that the latter is a civil servant and 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 controversial contracts awarded to Engirios Nigeria Limited was on August 18, 2022, for the construction of a terminal building in Katsina Airport, at the cost of N1,345,586,500.00.

“The second was awarded on November 3, 2022, for the establishment of a Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre in Katsina Airport at N3, 811,497,685.

“The third contract was on February 3, 2023, for the procurement and installation of elevators, air conditioners and power generator’s house in Aviation House, Abuja, at the cost of N615,195,275.000.

“The fourth was awarded on May 5, 2023, for the procurement of Magnus Aircraft and simulator for Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria at the cost of N2, 296,897, 404.00.”

A top source said: “Investigators further discovered that upon the receipt of the payment, Abubakar allegedly transferred it to different companies and individuals. There is no trace of work done on any of the contract items to date.

“These developments led to the arrest and questioning of Abubakar by the EFCC.”

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There were indications that the EFCC was looking into what was termed alleged “Nigeria Air fraud.”

Speaking on the probe and arrest of Sirika, the EFCC chairman said: “Yes, we are investigating the ex-minister. When the time comes, we will brief you on our findings.

“About the specific question on Hadi Sirika, yes, we are investigating the Ministry of Aviation, not only Hadi Sirika.

“We are investigating many of these heads of agencies who worked in that ministry, particularly in the last few years.

“The investigation is ongoing and when we are through we will let you see the report. It is not just about Hadi Sirika. I told you that there is nothing personal.

“It is not about Hadi Sirika; it is about the system, processes, and national interest.

“So don’t let us single out somebody as if EFCC is running after Hadi Sirika, no. It is a system. If you had asked me whether we are investigating issues concerning the Ministry of Aviation, I would tell you straight away that yes, we are investigating it.

“When the time comes for us to release the report you will see the details of our report, but now it is premature for me to tell you what we have discovered.

“We are making progress in that regard and we are not going to stop.

“Whatever we discovered at the end of the day we are ready to go to court and you can go to town with the material.”

The Star