The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has frozen an account belonging to Abubakar Sirika, brother of the erstwhile minister of aviation and aerospace development Mr Hadi Sirika, over an alleged N8.06 billion contract fraud in the federal ministry of aviation.
The Nation reported that the anti-graft agency made this known after the arrest of Abubakar Sirika over contract fraud worth about N3.2 billion that was traced to his private company, Engirios Nigeria Limited.
Abubakar Sirika is also a Level-16 officer and a deputy director in the federal ministry of water resources.
It was gathered that four big contracts were awarded to Abubakar’s Engirios Nigeria Limited when his brother was in charge of the ministry.
According to EFCC investigators, Abubakar Sirika is listed as the company’s MDCEO and the sole signatory to the two accounts linked to the firm with two banks.
The four contracts the ex-minister awarded to his brother which were not executed are Construction of the Terminal Building in Katsina Airport (N1.3 billion); Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre in Katsina Airport (N3.8 billion); Procurement and installation of elevators, air conditioners and power generator house in Aviation House, Abuja (N615 million); procurement of magnus aircraft and simulator for the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria (N2.3 billion).
Investigators revealed a payment of N3.2 billion out of the total contract sum to Engirios Nigeria Limited.
Upon receipt of the payment, he allegedly transferred it to different companies and individuals.
The EFCC also alleged that no trace of work had been done on any of the contract items to date.
