The former Minister of Aviation under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, Hadi Sirika, has been apprehended by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection to an ongoing investigation of an alleged N8 billion money laundering case related to Nigeria Air. Sirika is currently being interrogated by EFCC investigators about fraudulent contracts that were allegedly awarded to a company called Engirios Nigeria Limited, owned by his younger sibling, Abubakar Sirika. Abubakar Sirika had 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. The EFCC conducted an investigation into the Aviation Ministry’s activities under Sirika, focusing on allegations of conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, contract inflation, criminal breaches of trust, and money laundering amounting to N8,069,176,864.00 during his tenure in office.
