Hadi Sirika, Nigeria’s former Minister of Aviation, and his brother, Ahmad Sirika, have pleaded not guilty to fresh fraud charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Garki, Abuja.
The latest arraignment occurred on Thursday before Justice Sulaiman Belgore. Previously, the EFCC had arraigned Sirika and his daughter in connection with fraudulent activities surrounding the Nigeria Air project.
In this new 10-count charge, the EFCC accused Sirika of using his brother, Ahmad, to divert billions of Naira from the Federal Ministry of Aviation through illegal contract awards. The charges also allege that Sirika conferred unfair advantage on his brother while engaging in corrupt practices related to the awarding of aviation contracts.
When the charges were read out in court, Sirika denied all allegations, stating, “I’m not guilty, my lord, and it is not true.” His brother, Ahmad, also rejected the charges against him.
EFCC counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, requested a trial date, revealing that the agency had over 12 witnesses ready to testify against the accused.
This fresh development follows Ahmad Sirika’s arrest earlier this year, in February 2024, by the EFCC for his involvement in a contract fraud investigation related to the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
Sirika is facing allegations that include conspiracy, abuse of office, money laundering, contract inflation, and diversion of public funds, amounting to N8,069,176,864. The charges stem from four aviation-related contracts awarded to Engirios Nigeria Limited, a company owned by Ahmad Sirika, during his tenure as Minister of Aviation from August 2019 to May 2023.
The EFCC, as a law enforcement agency, is empowered to investigate and prosecute financial crimes, and the accused will remain innocent until proven guilty in a competent court of law.
