EFCC files fresh charges against former aviation minister, Hadi Sirika, over N19.4bn fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has initiated 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 funds in question are linked to various aviation ministry contracts awarded by the former minister to Enginos Nigeria Limited, a company owned by Sirika’s younger brother, Abubakar.

Scheduled for arraignment before Justice Belgore of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, the Sirika brothers and Enginos Nigeria Limited are facing accusations of using their positions to confer unfair advantages and influence contract awards.

In the filed charges, the EFCC alleges that Hadi Sirika, while serving as Minister of Aviation, leveraged his position to award contracts to Enginos Nigeria Limited, owned by his brother Ahmad Abubakar Sirika, for projects including the construction of a terminal building at Katsina Airport.

According to the EFCC, these actions contravene the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and are punishable under the same section.

Additional counts include allegations of using his position to confer unfair advantage on Enginos Nigeria Limited by influencing the award of contracts for projects like the establishment of a Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre at Katsina Airport.

Further charges detail corrupt practices related to the awarding of contracts for procurement and installation of equipment at the Aviation House in Abuja.

The EFCC asserts that Hadi Sirika, between August 2022 and May 2023, had possession of funds suspected to be proceeds of criminal activities.