More trouble for ex-minister Hadi Sirika as EFCC traces N3bn to brothers account

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has frozen an account linked to Abubakar Ahmad Sirika, brother of immediate-past minister Hadi Sirika, over an alleged N8.06 billion contract fraud in the Federal Ministry of Aviation.

According to The Nation, the anti-graft agency made this known following the arrest of Abubakar Sirika for contract fraud of approximately N3.2 billion, which was tracked back to his own firm, Engirios Nigeria Limited.

Abubakar Sirika is also a Level-16 officer and Deputy Director at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

It was reported that four major contracts were awarded to Abubakar’s Engirios Nigeria Limited while his brother was in charge of the ministry.

According to EFCC inspectors, Abubakar Ahmad Sirika is listed as the company’s MD/CEO and the sole signatory to the firm’s two bank accounts.

The four contracts the ex-minister awarded to his brother that were not executed are: Construction of the Terminal Building in Katsina Airport (N1.3 billion); Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre in Katsina Airport (N3.8 billion); Procurement and installation of elevators, air conditioners, and power generator house in Aviation House, Abuja (N615 million); and procurement of Magnus aircraft and simulator for Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria (N2.3 billion).

Investigators discovered a transfer of N3.2 billion from the total contract price to Engirios Nigeria Limited. Upon receiving the cash, he allegedly moved it to various corporations and persons.

The investigators also claimed that no work has been completed on any of the contract items to yet.

Hadi Sirika was Nigeria’s formal Minister of Aviation after former President Buhari Muhammadu was re-elected in 2019, however he had previously served as Minister of State in 2015.

Sirika was also associated with the now-famous Nigeria Air scam.