Nigeria’s former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika is in hot water after being arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday for his alleged involvement in an N8 billion fraud.
The EFCC is accusing Sirika of awarding inflated contracts to his brother’s company, Engirios Nigeria Limited, without following due process. The investigators believe that Abubakar Sirika, the ex-minister’s brother, did not complete any work for the contracts and that the funds were instead stolen.
This arrest comes amidst a wider crackdown on corruption by the Nigerian government. President Bola Tinubu has made tackling corruption a centerpiece of his administration, and the EFCC has stepped up its efforts to investigate and prosecute high-profile cases.
Sirika served as Aviation Minister from 2015 to 2023 and was considered a close ally of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari. Local media reports that his arrest is also related to the Nigeria Air project, Nigeria’s national carrier, which hangs in the balance.
This is a developing story, and more information is expected to be released soon.
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
