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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has fixed next week for the arraignment of the former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika.
"This is in connection with the botched Nigeria Air project", a source in the anti-graft agency revealed.
The investigator, who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “Interrogators are probing Mr Sirika over the controversial Nigeria Air project that failed.
“Though the commission is yet to uncover the total amount that was expended on the project, the investigation is ongoing, and Sirika will be arraigned in court next week as charges are being prepared against him.”
The ex-minister was on Tuesday taken into custody by the EFCC for questioning.
According to the source, “Yes, that was Hadi Sirika who was taken into our FCT custody. He is currently meeting with EFCC investigators over the alleged N8,069,176,864.00 aviation ministry contract fraud,” a source revealed.
The spokesman for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the commission probe Sirika on Tuesday.
He, however, did not disclose the reasons behind the former minister’s probe.
“Yes, Mr Sirika is being quizzed by our interrogators,” Oyewale simply noted.
The probe, it was reported, centred on conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, contract inflation and money laundering to the tune of N8,069,176,864.
The sum is said to be for four aviation contracts from the former minister to a company known as Engirios Nigeria Limited, owned by his younger sibling, Abubakar Sirika.
It was further revealed that the ex-minister’s younger brother had been arrested and detained by the commission in connection with N3,212,258,930.18 paid to his company, Engirios Nigerian Limited’s, bank account by the former minister.
