Abubakar Ahmad Sirika has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFFC for alleged fraud.
Sirika is the younger brother of the immediate past Minister of Aviation, Hardi Sirika, according to the anit- graft agency which said he has been questioned over an alleged N8.06 billion contract fraud in the Federal Ministry of Aviation during the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
He was arrested on Sunday, the commission, and has been quizzed on several allegations including money laundering, conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, contract inflation, and criminal breach of trust.
The agency said Abubakar benefitted from contracts awarded by the former minister of which over N3 billion has been traced to Engirios Nigeria Limited, owned by Abubakar, a deputy director, in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.
Abubakar is the managing director of the firm which got four contracts from the former minister, EFCC said..
According to the facts provide by the commission, the four contracts the ex-minister awarded to his brother are:
- Construction of the Terminal Building in Katsina Airport (N1,345,586,500.00);
- Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre in 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).
The former minister, the magazine recalls is currently under probe over alleged corruption in the Air Nigeria deal he brokered with a foreign airline while in government.
