EFCC Arrests Former Minister, Arraigned Him in Court over Alleged N8 Billion Money Laundering

The immediate past Aviation Minister, Senator Hadi Sirika, has been arrested by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged money laundering of over N8 billion.

The anti-graft agency arraigned him before a court in Abuja on Tuesday afternoon.

He was charged with awarding alleged fraudulent contracts more than N8 billion to Engirios Nigeria Limited for various aviation projects while in office

The projects, included terminal building at Katsina Airport, as well as the procurement of an aircraft and simulators for the Nigerian College of Civil Aviation and Technology, Zaria.

Recall that, in February, EFCC investigated the activities of the Aviation Ministry under Sirika for conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, and contract inflation.

Read Also:

EFCC Quizzes Kayode Fayemi Over Alleged Money Laundering

Others are criminal breaches of trust and money laundering amounting to N8,069,176,864.00 during Sirika’s tenure in office.

Apart from being listed as the company’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Abubakar is said to be the sole signatory to the company’s two accounts, domiciled in Zenith and Union Banksy.

It was gathered that the ex-minister’s younger brother, Abubakar Sirika, has been arrested and detained by the commission in connection with N3,212,258,930.18 paid to his company, Engirios Nigerian Limited’s, bank account by the former minister.

It was noted that there is no trace of work done on any of the contract items to date.

Sirika was arrested Sunday February 4 to assist the commission in its probe of the Aviation Ministry’s financial expenditures during his tenure.