The EFCC has taken decisive action, freezing the account of Abubakar Ahmad Sirika, brother of former aviation minister Hadi Sirika, amid a probe into an alleged N8.06 billion contract fraud within the Federal Ministry of Aviation.
Abubakar Sirika was arrested following revelations of contract fraud amounting to approximately N3.2 billion, which were traced to his company, Engirios Nigeria Limited, reports from The Nation indicate.
A Level-16 officer and deputy director in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Abubakar Sirika also serves as MD/CEO and sole signatory of the accounts linked to Engirios Nigeria Limited, according to EFCC investigators.
The contracts, awarded to Engirios Nigeria Limited during his brother’s tenure as minister, 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).
Despite payments totaling N3.2 billion, investigators found no evidence of work completed on any of the contract items. Allegedly, Abubakar Sirika transferred the funds to various companies and individuals.
Hadi Sirika, who served as the Minister of Aviation after President Buhari’s reelection in 2019, has been linked to controversies, including the Nigeria Air scandal.
