Abubakar Ahmad Sirika, brother of the former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, is under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for an alleged N8.06 billion contract fraud within the Federal Ministry of Aviation.
Abubakar, suspected of receiving a contract from his brother, was detained on February 4th as part of the EFCC’s inquiry into alleged fraudulent activities during the previous minister’s tenure.
The EFCC is looking into allegations including conspiracy, abuse of office, misappropriation of public funds, contract inflation, breach of trust, and money laundering.
Reportedly, N3,212,258,930.18 has been traced to Engirios Nigeria Limited, owned by Abubakar, a Level-16 officer and deputy director in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.
During his brother’s tenure, four significant contracts were awarded to Abubakar’s company, Engirios Nigeria Limited.
Abubakar Sirika, listed as the company’s Managing Director/CEO, is also the sole signatory to the two accounts associated with the firm in two banks.
The contracts awarded to him include; “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).
“The EFCC’s crack team was able to uncover four contracts, worth about N8,069,176,864.00, which were not executed,” a source told The Nation.
“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.
“These developments led to the arrest and detention of Abubakar on Sunday by the EFCC. He was grilled for several hours yesterday. He is providing the commission with additional useful information on the financial activities of the Aviation Ministry under the supervision of his elder brother.”
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