The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will today indict the immediate Past Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, on an allegedly N2.7 billion fraud linked to a botched Nigerian Air project unless any last-minute changes are made.
Sirika, his daughter Fatimah, and two others will appear before Justice Sylvanus Orji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on six charges, according to The Punch.
The other defendants are Jalal Hamma and Alburaq Investment Ltd, as shown in the court documents that our reporter saw on Wednesday.
The EFCC accused Sirika of according undue advantage on some entities between April 2022 and March 2023 in Abuja in the charges,
The anti-graft agency alleged that Sirika abused his office by awarding consultancy N1.3bn contract for the Nigerian Air Start-up to Tianero Nigeria Limited.
According to the EFCC, the ex-minister violated Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, of 2000.
In another count, the anti-graft agency alleged that on or about August 18, 2022 in Abuja, Sirika “did use your position to confer unfair advantage upon Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, whose alter ego, Fatima Hadi Sirika and Jalal Sule Hamma are your daughter and son-in-law respectively, by using your position to influence the award to them, the contract for the Apron Extension at Katsina Airport for the sum of N1.498,300,750.00.”
EFCC said by doing so, Sirika violated Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and was liable to punishment under the same section.
In count three, the EFCC accused Sirika of criminal breach of trust “while being the Minister of Aviation and in such capacity as a public officer on or about August 18, 2022, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court.”
The ex-aviation minister was taken into custody and interrogated for several days by the antigraft agency at the end of April.
