The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, over an ongoing investigation of the sum N8,069,176,864.00 said to have been money laundered by the ex-minister while in office.

Sirika who arrived at the Abuja office of the EFCC at about 1:00 pm on Tuesday, was ushered into one of the rooms for interrogation.

There had been suspicion that Sirika awarded contract to a company known as Engirios Nigeria Limited, owned by his brother, Abubakar Sirika.

The sum is said to be for four aviation contracts from the former minister to a company known as Engirios Nigeria Limited, owned by his younger sibling, Abubakar Sirika.

Abubakar who has also been arrested is said to be the sole signatory to the company’s bank accounts.

Aviation ministry sources said Sirika ran the ministry as his private business and awarded contracts without due process including contracts to his brother without any job done, though payments were made.

The minister’s brother, Abubakar,  is said to be a civil servant, a deputy director on Level 16 in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, where he has been working since 2000 till date.

EFCC investigators said the first of the contracts from the former minister to Engirios Nigeria Limited was on August 18, 2022, for the construction of the Terminal Building in Katsina Airport, at a cost of N1,345,586,500.00. The second was awarded on November 3, 2022, for the establishment of the Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Center in Katsina Airport, valued at N3, 811,497,685.00.

The third contract was on February 3, 2023, for the procurement and installation of lifts, air conditioners, and a power generator’s house in Aviation House, Abuja, at the cost of N615,195,275.000, while the fourth was awarded on May 5, 2023, for the procurement of Magnus aircraft and a simulator for the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, at the cost of N2, 296,897,404.00.

EFCC document said “Out of the total contract sum, the ex-minister paid out N3,212,258,930.18 to his younger brother’s Engirios Nigerian Limited, who, upon receipt of the payment, transferred it to different companies and individuals.”