In a renewed anti-corruption fight by the President Tinubu administration, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has identified an account belonging to Abubakar Ahmad Sirika, brother to Hadi Sirika, the immediate-past minister of Aviation in Buhari govt, over alleged N8.06 billion contract fraud in the Federal Ministry of Aviation. The anti-graft agency made this known after the arrest of Abubakar Sirika over the contract fraud of about N3.2 billion and was traced to his private company account, Engirios Nigeria Limited, where the anti-graft has since frozen the account.
Abubakar Sirika is also a serving Level-16 officer deputising a director in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.
It was learned that four gigantic contracts were awarded to his Engirios Nigeria Limited when his brother, Hadi Sirika was serving as a Minister.
According to a preliminary investigation by the EFCC, Abubakar Ahmad Sirika is listed as the company’s MD/CEO and the sole signatory to the two accounts linked to the firm with two banks.
Accordingly, four contracts were awarded to his company by his brother Hadi Sirica that were never executed and full mobilization payments were made which include; 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); Procurement of Magnus Aircraft and simulator for Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria (N2.3 billion).
The Investigators further revealed that a payment of N3.2 billion out of the total contract sum to Engirios Nigeria Limited was made. However, upon receipt of the payment, the brother diverted the money into different companies and individuals which he had an interest in them.
The investigators also revealed that on all the contracts, no trace of work had been made on any of the said contract till date.
Hadi Sirika was the substantive Minister of Aviation for Nigeria after former President Buhari Muhammadu was re-elected in 2019 but was minister of State in 2015.
Sirika was also associated with the now infamous Nigeria Air scandal.
