Alleged N80.6Bn Aviation Fraud: EFCC Moves Against Buhari’s Nephew, Hadi Sirika And Brother, Abubakar
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has interrogated Abubakar Ahmad Sirika, a brother to former minister of Aviation in the former President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, Hadi Sirika.
Hadi Sirika, who is a nephew to Buhari, was one of the most powerful and influential public office holders in the immediate past government that got enmeshed in the controversial Nigeria Air project that has turned out to be a scam.
It was gathered that the EFCC drilled Abubakar Ahmad Sirika, who was arrested on Sunday, February 4, 2024 was allegedly awarded contract by his brother, Hadi while serving as a minister.
The former minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika is being investigated over allegations of fraudulent practices that include; money laundering, criminal breach of trust, contract inflation, abuse of office and diversion of public funds.
For instance, of the contract sum under investigation, about N3,212,258,930.18 has been traced to Engirios Nigeria Limited, owned by Abubakar Sirika, a deputy director on Grade Level-16 in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.
Sources close to the EFCC revealed that four big contracts were awarded to Abubakar’s Engirios Nigeria Limited when his brother was in charge of the Aviation ministry.
This was as the anti-graft agency also discovered that Abubakar Sirika is listed as the company’s Managing Director (MD)/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the sole signatory to the two accounts linked to the firm with two banks.
The four contracts under probe which the former minister awarded to his brother Abubakar included; the construction of the Terminal Building in Katsina Airport at the cost of N1,345,586,500.00, Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre, Katsina Airport at the cost of N3, 811,497,685.00, Procurement and installation of elevators, air conditioners, and power generator house in Aviation House, Abuja at the cost of N615,195,275.000, and Procurement of Magnus Aircraft and Simulator for Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria at the cost of N2, 296,897, 404.00.
Findings by the EFCC indicated that the first of the controversial contracts awarded to Abubakar’s Engirios Nigeria Limited was on August 18, 2022, for the construction of the Terminal Building in Katsina Airport while the second was awarded on November 3, 2022, for the establishment of the Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre in Katsina Airport.
However, the third contract was awarded on February 3, 2023, for the procurement and installation of elevators, air conditioners, and power generator’s house in Aviation House, Abuja.
Similarly, the EFCC investigators uncovered four contracts valued at N8,069,176,864.00 that was not executed under the tenure of Hadi Sirika as minister.
It was gathered that the money was for four aviation contracts from the former minister to Engirios Nigeria Limited, owned by Abubakar Sirika.
The EFCC source further said; “While profiling the contracts, there was a payment of N3,212,258,930.18 out of the total contract sum to Abubakar’s Engirios Nigeria Limited, which is owned by the younger brother of the ex-Minister of Aviation, who is listed as the company’s MD/CEO and the sole signatory to the company’s two accounts.
“Investigation revealed that upon the receipt of the payment, Abubakar allegedly transferred it to different companies and individuals while there is no trace of work done on any of the contract items to date.
“The fourth was awarded on May 5, 2023, barely 24 days to the end of the Buhari Administration for the procurement of Magnus Aircraft and simulator for Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria”.
The development boosted the EFCC curiosity to direct its searchlight to the controversy surrounding the Nigeria Air saga with a view to determine how much was released for the failed project.
