EFCC Charges Former Aviation Minister, Brother for N19.4b Fraud

Oluwasegun SanusiMay 14, 20241 Mins read567

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has levelled allegations of fraud against former Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika, his brother Ahmad Sirika, and his company, Enginos Nigeria Limited.

The accusations, totalling N19.4 billion, are related to multiple contracts awarded by the Ministry of Aviation during Sirika’s tenure.

The charges, to be presented before Justice Belgore of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja today, mark Sirika’s second legal battle within a week.

Last Thursday, the former aviation minister was arraigned before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory alongside his daughter Fatimah, brother-in-law Jalal Hamma, and Al-Buraq Investment Ltd. for alleged N2.7 billion fraud.

The defendants pleaded not guilty and were granted bail, with stringent conditions barring them from travelling out of Nigeria.

The fresh charges, as sighted by The Punch, brought forth by the EFCC, detail instances where Sirika purportedly abused his ministerial position to favour Enginos Nigeria Limited, a company owned by his younger brother, Abubakar Sirika.

The allegations range from the manipulation of contract awards to the misappropriation of funds.

In one count, Sirika was accused of influencing the award of a contract worth N1.3 billion for the construction of a terminal building at Katsina Airport to Enginos Nigeria Limited, while another count pertains to a N3.8 billion contract for the establishment of a Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre at the same airport.

Additionally, Sirika faces accusations of awarding a N615 million contract to his brother’s company to procure and install equipment at the Aviation House in Abuja.

Furthermore, the EFCC alleged that Sirika possessed over N2.3 billion between August 2022 and May 2023, which purportedly represented proceeds of criminal activities by Hadi Sirika, Minister of Aviation, during that time.

Recall that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved N11.8 billion for procuring equipment and setting up firefighting trucks and aircraft maintenance centres in Katsina state and Abuja, respectively, in October 2022.