By Clement Adeyi, Abuja
A former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, is currently being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for an alleged N8bn Nigeria Air money laundering probe.
It was learnt that Sirika, who arrived the Federal Capital Territory Command of the EFCC at about 1pm yesterday, was also being questioned for alleged fraudulent contracts awarded by him to a company known as Engirios Nigeria Limited, owned by his younger sibling, Abubakar Sirika.
This came as the EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, yesterday vowed to follow the prosecution of former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, to a logical conclusion.
Olukoyede, who spoke with journalists at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, threatened to resign as EFCC chairman if Bello was not prosecuted.
In February, EFCC investigated the activities of the Aviation Ministry under Sirika for conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, and contract inflation.
Others are criminal breaches of trust and money laundering amounting to N8.06bn during Sirika’s tenure in office.
Apart from being listed as the company’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Abubakar Sirika was alleged to be the sole signatory to the company’s two accounts, domiciled in Zenith and Union Banks.
It was learnt that the ex-ministers younger brother has been arrested and detained by the commission in connection with N3.22bn paid to his company, Engirios Nigerian Limited’s bank account by the former minister.
However, it was gathered that there was no trace of work done on any of the contract items to date.
Sirika was earlier interrogated on February 4 to assist the commission in its probe of the Aviation Ministry’s financial expenditures during his tenure.
*N80.2bn: I’ll resign if Bello isn’t prosecuted, says Olukoyede, EFCC chair
Meanwhile, Olukoyede vowed to resign as EFCC chairman if Bello was not prosecuted.
He vowed that all those who obstructed the arrest of the former governor would be brought to book.
The EFCC is seeking to arraign Bello on 19 counts bordering on alleged money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of funds to the tune of N80.2bn.
He said that no matter what anyone does or the amount of attack against the anti-graft agency, he and his men will not relent in helping to sanitise the country.
Olukoyede said the EFCC needed the support of Nigerians to succeed, emphasising that if the agency fails, Nigeria fails.
He stated that the efforts made currently have helped the value of the Naira and the foreign market.
*Anti-graft agency serves ex-Kogi gov’s lawyer charge sheet in court
Yesterday, the EFCC served a copy of the charge sheet of alleged fraud to the tune of N80.2bn against the immediate past governor on his lawyer, Abdulwahab Mohamed.
This followed an order by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja after Bello’s absence in court.
He was absent from court for his arraignment on a 19-count charge of alleged money laundering to the tune of N80.2bn.
The judge relied on section 384 (4 and 5) of the Administrative and Criminal Justice Act 2015, directing the counsel to the immediate past governor to receive a copy of the charge.
The court held that where it had become impossible to effect personal service of a legal process on a defendant, such could be done through substituted means.
Justice Nwite further held that it was clear that the former governor failed to appear in court for his arraignment.
Although Bello’s lawyer, Mohammed, initially declined to accept the charges and proof of evidence, he was compelled to do so by Justice Nwite.
The judge rejected the plea by the senior lawyer that a junior lawyer in his team, AI Musa, be the one to accept the charges on behalf of the former governor.
A member of the legal team for Bello, Adedayo Adedipe, told the court that his client would have made himself available, but was afraid of being of a lack of fair hearing and justice.
He added that Bello was ready to appear before the court to answer the 19-count charge preferred against him by the EFCC.
Adedipe urged the court, to set aside the ex-parte order of arrest it had earlier issued against the former governor, saying that at the time the order of arrest was made, the charge had not been served on his client.
Bello had argued that the EFCC was an illegal organisation.
According to him, the Federal Government did not consult the 36 states of the federation before enacting the EFCC Act through the National Assembly.
He added that section 12 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, required the various Houses of Assembly to ratify the act before it could become operative.
