The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is to arraign former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, before Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maitama on Thursday.
Sirika, a minister in the administration of former president Muhammadu Buhari, would be arraigned on a six -count amended charge.
He will be arraigned alongside three others, including his daughter, Fatima; Jalal Hamma and Al-Duraq Investment Ltd, for abuse of office to the tune of N2.7 billion.
The EFCC investigations into the financial malfeasance allegedly committed by the former minister “including fraudulent contracts awarded by the ministry under his watch, had on April 23 detained him in Abuja.’’
Sirika was invited by the Abuja Zonal Command of the commission on the alleged contract malfeasance and was promptly interrogated and detained at the Formella Street, Wuse 2 Zonal office of the Commission.
“The former minister (Sirika) was invited for questioning by investigators handling the alleged contract frauds under his watch in the ministry.
He honoured the invitation and has been detained as I am talking with you,” a source in the EFCC who pleaded anonymously told Nigerian Pilot ’’.
The source also said that EFCC had been investigating the alleged contract frauds while the minister was in office, and he had even met with investigators before he was detained.
The arraignment was earlier slated to hold on Tuesday but due to EFCC prayer to amend the charge, a new date was given.
Another impeccable anti-graft source who spoke on the condition of anonymity, because they were not authorised to speak, confirmed the development to our correspondent on Wednesday.
“Yes, that was Hadi Sirika who was taken into our FCT custody ahead of arraignment today.
He is currently in detention with EFCC investigators over the alleged N8, 069,176,864.00 aviation ministry contract fraud,” a source revealed.
Another source noted, “The N8, 069,176,864.00 aviation ministry contract frauds was carried out in connivance with his younger brother, Abubakar Sirika, through the latter’s company.”
The EFCC is investigating the activities of the Aviation Ministry under former Minister Sirika for conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, and contract inflation.
The anti-graft commission is investigating the activities of the Aviation Ministry for conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, and contract inflation.
Others are criminal breaches of trust and money laundering amounting to N8, 069,176,864.00 during Sirika’s tenure in office.
The sum is said to be for four aviation contracts from the former minister to a company known as Engirios Nigeria Limited, owned by his younger sibling, Abubakar Sirika.
Apart from being listed as the company’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Abubakar is said to be the sole signatory to the company’s two accounts, domiciled in Zenith and Union Banksy.
