Grace Omachoko
The former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika under the administration of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged N8 billion money laundering case.
According to report, Sirika was taken into custody upon his arrival at the EFCC’s Federal Capital Territory Command around 1:00 pm on Tuesday.
The investigation focuses on suspected fraudulent contracts awarded by Sirika to Engirios Nigeria Limited, a company owned by his younger sibling, Abubakar Sirika.
Recalled that in February, the EFCC began probing the Aviation Ministry’s activities during Sirika’s tenure, including allegations of conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, contract inflation, criminal breaches of trust, and money laundering amounting to N8,069,176,864.00.
Abubakar Sirika, listed as the Managing Director and CEO of Engirios Nigeria Limited, was also detained by the EFCC in connection with N3,212,258,930.18 deposited into the company’s bank accounts by his brother, the former minister.
Despite these payments, no evidence of work completed on any of the contract items has been found to date.
Sirika’s arrest comes after he was initially detained on February 4th to aid the EFCC’s investigation into the Aviation Ministry’s financial expenditures during his tenure.
