The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has frozen an account linked to Abubakar Ahmad Sirika, brother of immediate-past minister Hadi Sirika, over an alleged N8.06 billion contract fraud in the Federal Ministry of Aviation.
According to The Nation, the anti-graft agency announced this following the arrest of Abubakar Sirika for contract fraud of around N3.2 billion, which was tracked back to his own firm, Engirios Nigeria Limited.
Abubakar Sirika is also a Level-16 officer and Deputy Director at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.
It was reported that four major contracts were awarded to Abubakar’s Engirios Nigeria Limited while his brother was in charge of the ministry.
According to EFCC inspectors, Abubakar Ahmad Sirika is listed as the company’s MD/CEO and the sole signatory to the firm’s two bank accounts.
The four contracts the ex-minister awarded to his brother that were not executed are: 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 lifts, air conditioners and power generator house in Aviation House, Abuja (N615 million); and procurement of Magnus aircraft and simulator for Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria (N2.3 billion).
Investigators found that Engirios Nigeria Limited received a payment of N3.2 billion, which he allegedly transferred to various companies and individuals.
Additionally, no work was done on any of the contract items.
Hadi Sirika was the substantive Minister of Aviation for Nigeria after former President Buhari Muhammadu was re-elected in 2019, but later became Minister of State.
