Nigeria Air: EFCC To Arraign Sirika For Alleged N8bn Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will, next week, arraign a former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, in connection with the botched Nigeria Air project.

An impeccable source in the anti-graft agency revealed this to PUNCH on Tuesday.

The investigator, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he did not have official permission to speak on the matter, said, “Interrogators are probing Mr Sirika over the controversial Nigeria Air project that failed.

“Though the commission is yet to uncover the total amount that was expended on the project, the investigation is ongoing, and Sirika will be arraigned in court next week as charges are being prepared against him.”

The ex-minister was on Tuesday taken into custody by the EFCC. He arrived at the Federal Capital Territory Command of the EFCC at about 1 pm on Tuesday.

Our correspondent, who was at the Wuse office of the EFCC, observed the arrival of the embattled former minister at the anti-graft agency’s Abuja office.

He was immediately taken in for questioning by EFCC investigators.

Impeccable anti-graft sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak, confirmed the development to our correspondent on Tuesday.

“Yes, that was Hadi Sirika who was taken into our FCT custody. He is currently meeting 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 fraud was carried out in connivance with his younger brother, Abubakar Sirika, through the latter’s company.

“Also, the commission has also uncovered the laundering of another large sum of money through another company during Sirika’s term as minister.”

The spokesman for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, also confirmed to our correspondent that the commission’s investigators quizzed Sirika on Tuesday.

He, however, did not disclose the reasons behind the former minister’s probe.

“Yes, Mr Sirika is being quizzed by our interrogators,” Oyewale simply noted.