The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to arraign former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, along with his daughter, Fatima, and two others, for alleged abuse of office amounting to N2.7 billion.
The arraignment is scheduled to take place before Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maitama.
Sirika, a prominent figure in the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, faces a six-count amended charge related to fraudulent contracts awarded during his tenure as Aviation Minister. The EFCC, in its investigation into financial irregularities within the ministry, detained Sirika on April 23 in Abuja.
According to a source within the EFCC, Sirika was detained following his interrogation regarding alleged contract malfeasance under his watch. The commission had been probing fraudulent contracts awarded during Sirika’s tenure, and the former minister had previously met with investigators before his detention.
Originally scheduled for Tuesday, the arraignment was postponed due to the EFCC’s request to amend the charges, resulting in a new date being set. Alongside Sirika and his daughter, the other defendants to be arraigned are Jalal Hamma and Al-Duraq Investment Ltd.