Sirika was grilled about alleged fraudulent contracts he authorised for a company called Engirios Nigeria Limited, owned by his younger sibling, Abubakar Sirika.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is set to arraign former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, his daughter, Fatimah, and two other suspects in court on Thursday.
The commission is charging the suspects for alleged N2.7 billion contract fraud uncovered in the aviation ministry under Sirika and during then-President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
The PUNCH reports that the embattled former minister will be arraigned before Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday.
Sirika is billed to appear in court with three co-defendants, his daughter, Fatima; one Jalal Hamma, and Al-Duraq Investment Ltd, on charges of abusing their positions to launder over N2.7 billion.
SaharaReporters had reported how the EFCC arrested Hadi Sirika in April over the same allegation.
Sirika was grilled about alleged fraudulent contracts he authorised for a company called Engirios Nigeria Limited, owned by his younger sibling, Abubakar Sirika.
In January, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, revealed that the EFCC was investigating the controversial Nigeria Air deal sealed by Sirika.
The minister said, “The EFCC is investigating that deal. There is a criminal investigation going on. I have called for the report.”
SaharaReporters in May 2023 reported that the plane unveiled by then-President Buhari a few days before he left office was over 10 years old and belonged to Ethiopian Airlines.
Plane Spotters, a platform which takes an inventory of aircraft, revealed its Mode was S Q4005C and its Serial Number was 40965/4075.
The Concerned Northern Forum had also called the ‘Nigeria Air’ launch a half-baked project and alleged that it was driven by lies, deception and corruption amounting to billions of naira.
The current aviation minister also revealed that the Bola Tinubu government did not have any plan to rejig any local airline to become the national carrier.
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