The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday quizzed Abubakar Ahmad Sirika over an alleged N8.06 billion contract fraud in the Federal Ministry of Aviation.
Abubakar is the brother of immediate-past Minister Hadi Sirika, believed to have awarded the contracts to his sibling.
Abubakar’s arrest on Sunday was part of the ongoing probe of alleged fraudulent practices in the Ministry of Aviation during the tenure of the ex-minister.
EFCC is probing allegations of conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, contract inflation, criminal breach of trust and money laundering.
Of the contract sum, about N3, 212,258,930.18 has been traced to Engirios Nigeria Limited, owned by Abubakar, who is a Level-16 officer, a deputy director, in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.
It was learnt that four big contracts were awarded to Abubakar’s Engirios Nigeria Limited when his brother was in charge of the ministry.
According to EFCC investigators, Abubakar Sirika is listed as the company’s Managing Director (MD)/Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Besides, it was found out that he is the sole signatory to the two accounts linked to the firm with two banks.
The four contracts the ex-minister awarded to his brother are:
• Construction of the Terminal Building in Katsina Airport (N1,345,586,500.00);
• Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre in Katsina Airport (N3, 811,497,685.00);
• Procurement and installation of elevators, air conditioners and power generator house in Aviation House, Abuja (N615,195,275.000);
• Procurement of Magnus Aircraft and simulator for Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria (N2, 296,897, 404.00).
A top official of the anti-graft agency said: “In connection with the ongoing probe of the Ministry of Aviation during Hadi Sirika’s tenure, EFCC’s crack team was able to uncover four contracts, worth about N8,069,176,864.00, which were not executed.
“The sum was for four aviation contracts from the former minister to Engirios Nigeria Limited, owned by his sibling.
“While profiling the contracts, there was a payment of N3,212,258,930.18 out of the total contract sum to Engirios Nigeria Limited, which is owned by the younger brother of the ex-Minister of Aviation.
“Apart from being listed as the company’s MD/CEO, Abubakar is the sole signatory to the company’s two accounts.
“Investigators further discovered that upon the receipt of the payment, Abubakar allegedly transferred it to different companies and individuals.
“There is no trace of work done on any of the contract items to date.
The Nation
