Breaking News: EFCC Files Fresh N19.4bn Fraud Charges Against Ex-Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika And Others

Breaking News: EFCC Files Fresh N19.4bn Fraud Charges Against Ex-Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika And Others

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed fresh charges against former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, his brother, Ahmad Sirika, and their company, Enginos Nigeria Limited, for alleged fraud amounting to over N19.4 billion.

The money is said to be related to several aviation ministry contracts awarded by the former minister to Enginos Nigeria Limited, owned by Sirika’s younger brother, Abubakar.

Read Also: https://ireporteronline.com.ng/blog/breaking-news-efcc-files-fresh-n19-4bn-fraud-charges-against-ex-aviation-minister-hadi-sirika-and-others/

The Sirika brothers and Enginos Nigeria Limited are set to be arraigned before Justice Belgore of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday.

In the fresh charges filed by the EFCC, it is alleged that Sirika, “while being the Minister of Aviation, on or about August 18, 2022, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honorable 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 actions contravened Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and are 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 a Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre at Katsina Airport for the sum of N3,811,497,685.00.”

Sirika is also accused of corruptly awarding a N615,195,275.00 contract to his brother to procure and install lifts, 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.”

Published By: Destiny.Jnr