Ex-Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika, Brother Plead Not Guilty to N19.4bn Contract Fraud

Former Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika and his brother, Ahmad Sirika, on Thursday pleaded not guilty over an alleged N19.4bncontract fraud.

Sirika, his brother, and a company owned by Abubakar – Enginos Nigeria Limited, were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on an amended 10-count bordering on the offence.

In the new charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the former Minister of Aviation, his brother, and Enginos Nigeria Limited are accused of being involved in a N19 billion airport contract fraud.

Some counts in the fresh charge read:

*That you Hadi Sirika, while being the Minister of Aviation, on or about August 18, 2022, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, did use your position to confer unfair advantage upon Enginos Nigeria Limited whose alter ego, Ahmad Sirika is your biological brother, by using your position to influence the award to them, the contract for the construction of a Terminal Building at Katsina Airport for the sum of N1.345billion and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under the same section.

*That you Hadi Sirika, while being Minister of Aviation, on or about 3d November 2022, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, did use your position to confer unfair advantage upon Enginos Nigeria Limited whose alter ego, Ahmad Sirika is your blood brother, by using your position to influence the award to them, the contract for the establishment of Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre at Katsina Airport for the sum of N3.811billion and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under the same section.

*That you Hadi Sirika, while being Minister of Aviation, on or about 5 May 2023, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, did use your position to confer unfair advantage upon Enginos Nigeria Limited whose alter ego, Ahmad Sirika is your blood brother, by using your position to influence the award to them, the contract for the Procurement and Installation of Lift and Air Conditioners and Power Generators for Aviation House, Abuja for the sum of N615.195million and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under the same section.

*That you Hadi Sirika and Enginos Nigeria Limited between August 2022 and May 2023 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, had possession of an aggregate sum of N2.337billion, which sum you knew indirectly represented the proceeds of the criminal conduct of Ahmad Sirika, who was the Minister of Aviation at the time (to wit: use of office or position for gratification in respect of the said amount), and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 17 (b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004 and punishable under the same section; and two other charges.”