Hadi Sirika, the former Minister of Aviation under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, has been apprehended by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged money laundering amounting to N8 billion associated with Nigeria Air.
According to reports, Sirika was taken into custody at the EFCC’s Federal Capital Territory Command on Tuesday afternoon, April 2023.
He is being questioned by EFCC investigators regarding suspected irregularities in contracts awarded to Engirios Nigeria Limited, a company owned by his younger brother, Abubakar Sirika.
Earlier in February, the EFCC initiated a probe into the operations of the Aviation Ministry during Sirika’s tenure, examining possible offenses such as conspiracy, official misconduct, fund misappropriation, and contract overpricing.
The investigation also involves allegations of money laundering and breaches of trust totaling N8,069,176,864.
Abubakar Sirika, in addition to being listed as the company’s Managing Director and CEO, is reported to be the sole signatory to its bank accounts in Zenith and Union Banksy.
Abubakar Sirika has also been detained by the EFCC in connection with payments totaling N3,212,258,930.18 made to Engirios Nigeria Limited’s bank account by his brother, the former minister.
Currently, there is no evidence of any work being completed under the awarded contracts.
