EFCC summons ex-minister Sirika over N3bn Nigeria Air project

Tamarauemi Ebimini

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has summoned the immediate past minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, to appear before it over the controversial Nigeria Air project, which he claimed had gulped N3 billion.

Sirika is expected to appear before the anti-graft agency within the week.

Sources close to The Guardian revealed that the commission would look at the N3 billion sunk into the project though some stakeholders insisted that over N80 billion was expended on the project.

The anti-graft agency had also questioned officials of Nigerian Air over the recent launch of the airline in Abuja.

The minister had, at the twilight of the Buhari’s administration, caused the supposed launch of the Nigerian Air in Abuja using an Ethiopian aircraft.

While the minister was due to appear before the commission within the week to answer questions related to the launch of the airline, Nigerian Air, an Ethiopian Air aircraft garbed in Nigerian colours, the commission had already grilled some supposed officials of the national carrier.

Stakeholders were enraged that an Ethiopian airline that landed in Nigeria with Ethiopia Air particulars was packaged as a national carrier.

The minister had said at a recent Arise News Channel interview that the landing of the Ethiopian aircraft in Abuja was “a marketing strategy.”

EFCC Spokesperson Wilson Uwujaren could not be reached as at the time of filling this report.