Sirika’s brother Abubakar arrested by EFCC over N8b contracts not executed
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
An alleged N8.06 billion contract scam in the Ministry of Aviation has led to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) interrogating Abubakar Sirika, a civil servant and younger brother of Hadi Sirika, Aviation Minister in the administration of Muhammadu Buhari.
Hadi reportedly awarded the contract to Abubakar whom the graft buster arrested on Sunday and grilled on Monday over alleged fraud as the four contracts for which the money was paid were not executed.
The EFCC is investigating allegations of conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, contract inflation, criminal breach of trust and money laundering.
About N3,212,258,930.18 has been traced to Engirios Nigeria owned by Abubakar, a Deputy Director on Grade Level 16 at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.
Four big contracts were reported awarded to Engirios Nigeria when Hadi was Aviation Minister.
EFCC investigators said Abubakar is listed as the company’s Managing Director (MD)/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and is the sole signatory to the two accounts owned by the firm in two banks.
According to the anti-graft agency, the four contracts Hadi awarded to his brother are:
- Construction of the Terminal Building at Katsina Airport (N1,345,586,500.00);
- Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre at 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).
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Abubakar providing EFCC with “useful information”
“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,” An EFCC source told The Nation.
“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 [Monday]. He is providing the Commission with additional useful information on the financial activities of the Aviation Ministry under the supervision of his elder brother.”
Contract timelines
It was learnt the contract awards and the timelines were between August 2022 and May 2023.
“It is suspected that the ex-Minister, Hadi Sirika awarded the contracts to his brother Abubakar, knowing that he is a senior civil servant, working since 2000,” said an EFCC document, per The Nation.
“The first of the controversial contracts awarded to Engirios Nigeria Limited was on August 18, 2022, for the construction of the Terminal Building in Katsina Airport.
“The second was awarded on November 3, 2022, for the establishment of the Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre in Katsina Airport.
“The third contract was on February 3, 2023, for the procurement and installation of elevators, air conditioners and power generator’s house in Aviation House, Abuja.”
