Ex-Aviation Minister Sirika Arrested Over Alleged N8bn Fraud
FORMER Minister of Aviation during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, Hadi Sirika, has been arrested and presently detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with an alleged N8 billion money laundering investigation involving botched Nigeria Air.
Sirika reportedly arrived at the EFCC’s Abuja office at around 1pm earlier today following an invitation extended to him and he was promptly taken in.
Sirika is currently undergoing interrogation at the Commission’s office over alleged fraudulent contracts awarded by him to a company known as Engirios Nigeria Limited, owned by his younger sibling, Abubakar Sirika.
It will be recalled that the EFCC looked into the Aviation Ministry’s operations under Sirika in February for possible conspiracy, official misconduct, misappropriation of funds, and contract inflation.
Other offences include money laundering and criminal breaches of trust totaling N8,069,176,864.00 when Sirika was in government.
Apart from being listed as the company’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Abubakar Sirika, the ex-minister’s younger brother, he is said to be the sole signatory to the company’s two accounts domiciled in Zenith and Union Banks
It was also gathered that Abubakar Sirika has also been arrested and detained by the Commission in connection with N3,212,258,930.18 paid to his company, Engirios Nigerian Limited’s, bank account by the former minister.
Eighteen-Eleven Media
