Sirika Brothers’ Date with The Court: N19.4bn Criminal Enrichment from Proceeds Of Fraud- EFCC
3 min read
Katsina Airport Terminal Building
Immediate past Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Hadi Abubakar Sirika, his junior brother, Engr Ahmad Sirika, and Ahmad’s company, Enginos Nigeria Limited, are having a date at the Federal High Court Abuja, today. Thursday, 23rd May 2024, before Justice Suleiman Belgore.
The Federal Government, FG, through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has slammed the accused, with eight-count criminal charges bordering on breach of trust, and award of fraudulent contracts to the tune of N19.4 billion.
The Sirika brothers were expected at the Abuja High Court on Tuesday, 14th May 2024, to defend themselves on each count of the charges but were both absent.
However, counsel to the two accused brothers, Olaniyi Anjorin, profusely apologized to the court for his client’s absence.
His apology to the presiding Justice went thus; “Your lordship I want to sincerely apologize for the absence of the defendants,” he said.
However, after acceptance of the apologies, Justice Suleiman Belgore, accordingly adjourned the arraignment of the accused till 23rd May 2024.
The anti-graft agency summarily accused Hadi Sirika of using his position as a minister to confer undue advantage on his brother, his brother’s company, and other entities between April 2022 and March 2023 in Abuja.
Ahmad Abubakar is said to own the company. He’s the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.
He is also said to be the sole signatory to the company’s two accounts, domiciled in Zenith and Union banks.
The anti-graft agency stated that Sirika awarded the construction of a Terminal Building at Katsina Airport for the sum of N1,345,586,500.00 to Enginos Nigeria Limited owned by Ahmad Sirika.
Sirika was also accused of awarding a contract for the establishment of the Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre at Katsina Airport, for N3,811,497,685.00 to his brother, and his brother’s company.
Sirika, among other things, was also accused of awarding a contract for the Procurement and Installation of lift and air conditioners and power generators for the Aviation House Abuja, for the sum of N615,195,275.00 to Ahmad and Enginos.
The EFCC stated that these offences are contrary to section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under the same section.
Between August 2022 and May 2023, Ahmad and Enginos, were accused by the EFCC, of having an aggregate sum of N2,337, 840,674.1, which sum indirectly represented the proceeds of criminal conduct of Hadi Sirika, the Minister of Aviation at the time.
The EFCC further declared of Hadi Sirika thus, “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.
Earlier, Ahmad was also said to have been arrested and detained by the EFCC in connection with N3,212,258,930.18 paid to his company, Enginos Nigerian Limited’s bank account by the former minister.
The contracts for which the sums were paid for, were also said to be undone with no trace of work done to date.
ENGR SIRIKA AHMAD ABUBAKAR
Sirika Ahmad Abubakar is an employee of the Federal Ministry Of Water Resources. By the appointment, he was coopted and became a member of the Nigerian National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage. He is also a member, of the International Commission on Irrigation & Drainage, {Commission Internationale des Irrigation et du Drainage}
About Post Author
