By Seyi Babalola
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has brought new charges against former Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika, his brother Ahmad Sirika, and his firm, Enginos Nigeria Limited, for approximately N19.4 billion in fraud.
The funds are claimed to be for multiple aviation ministry contracts from the former minister to Enginos Nigeria Limited, which is controlled by Sirika’s younger brother, Abubakar.
The Sirika brothers and Enginos Nigeria Limited will be charged before Justice Belgore of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.
In the copy of the fresh charges, the EFCC alleged that Sirika, “while being the Minister of Aviation, on or about August 18, 2022, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did use your position to confer an unfair advantage upon Enginos Nigeria Limited, whose alter ego, Ahmad Abubakar Sirika, is your biological brother, by using your position to influence the award to him, the contract for the construction of a terminal building at Katsina Airport for the sum of N1,345,586,500.00.”
According to the anti-graft agency, Sirika’s alleged action contravened Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and was punishable under the same section.
In another count, the EFCC alleged that “on or about November 3, 2022, in Abuja,” Sirika used his position “to confer unfair advantage upon Enginos Nigeria Limited, whose alter ego, Ahmad Abubakar Sirika, is your biological brother, by using your position to influence the award to him, the contract for the establishment of Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre at Katsina Airport for the sum of N3,811,497,685.00.”
In another count, he was accused of corruptly awarding a N615,195,275.00 contract to his brother, to procure and install lift and air conditioners and power generators for the Aviation House in Abuja.
The EFCC alleged that Sirika, between August 2022 and May 2023 in Abuja, “had possession of an aggregate sum of N2,337, 840,674.16, which sum you knew indirectly represented the proceeds of criminal conducts of Hadi Abubakar Sirika, who was the Minister of Aviation at the time.”
