The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will arraign former minister of aviation, Hadi Sirika, in court next week.

The former minister was arrested earlier this week over fraud allegations and awarding contracts to his brother, Abubakar, a civil servant, to the tune of N8 billion.
Abubakar Sirika is a deputy director at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.
EFCC sources said Sirika will face charges in connection with an ongoing investigation related to fraud and money laundering amounting to over N8 billion.

Some of the probes center around the Katsina Airport contract, installation of lifts at Abuja Aviation House and the procurement of Magnus Aircraft and simulator for Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria

EFCC investigations showed that Sirika awarded contracts to his brother knowing that the latter was a civil servant.

The first of the controversial contracts from the former minister to Engirios Nigeria Limited was on August 18, 2022 for the construction of a terminal building at the Katsina Airport at the cost of N1,345,586,500.

The second was awarded on November 3, 2022 for the establishment of fire a truck maintenance and refurbishment centre at Katsina Airport valued at N3.8 billion.
The third was on February 3, 2023 for the procurement and instalment of lifts, air conditioners and power generator house in Aviation House, Abuja at the cost of N615 million.

The fourth was awarded on May 5, 2023 for the procurement of Magnus Aircraft and simulator for the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria at the cost of N2.2 billion.

The source stated that out of the total contract sum, the ex-minister paid out N3.2 billion to his younger brother’s Engirios Nigerian Limited, who upon the receipt of the payment, transferred it to different companies and individuals.

Serika was grilled at the EFCC FCT office for hours on Tuesday, while Abubakar has also been arrested and detained by the anti-graft agency.