Alleged Aviation Fraud: EFCC Arrests Buhari’s nephew, Sirika

Former president Muhammadu Buhari’s nephew and former Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, adjudged to be one of the most powerful cabinet members in the Administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, was on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged fraudulent award of contracts amongst other economic offences.

The former President was arrested by the EFCC in connection with alleged embezzlement of over ₦8 billion linked to the Nigerian Air scandal.

The anti-graft agency is investigating Sirika over an ongoing probe related to money laundering amounting to N8,069,176,864.00.

The accused ex-Minister stormed the EFCC’s Federal Capital Territory Command at about 1:00pm on Tuesday in company of relations and personal lawyer and was immediately quizzed.

Upon Sirika’s arrival at the EFCC Abuja office where he is facing a team of interrogators of the EFCC with dossiers of alleged financial sleazes carried out by him while he served as Minister of Aviation.

Sirika is also alleged to have awarded fraudulent contracts running into billions of Naira to a company ‘Engirios Nigeria Limited’, believed to be owned by his younger brother, a staff of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Abubakar Sirika.