Former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika
Published By: Isa Isawade
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will arraign former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, before Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maitama on Thursday.
Sirika, a minister in the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, would be arraigned on a six-count amended charge.
He will be arraigned alongside three others, including his daughter, Fatima; Jalal Hamma and Al-Duraq Investment Ltd, for abuse of office to the tune of N2.7 billion.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that as part of EFCC investigations into the financial malfeasance allegedly committed by the former minister, which included fraudulent contracts awarded by the ministry under his watch, he had on April 23 been detained in Abuja.
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Sirika was invited by the Abuja Zonal Command of the commission on the alleged contract malfeasance and was promptly interrogated and detained at Formella Street, Wuse 2 Zonal office of the Commission.
“The former minister (Sirika) was invited for questioning by investigators handling the alleged contract frauds under his watch in the ministry. He honoured the invitation and has been detained as I am talking with you,” a source in the EFCC who pleaded anonymity told NAN.
The source also said that EFCC had been investigating the alleged contract frauds while the minister was in office, and he had even met with investigators before he was detained.
The arraignment was earlier slated for Tuesday but due to EFCC’s prayer to amend the charge, a new date was given.