Former Nigerian Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, once a prominent figure in President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, now faces corruption charges alongside his daughter and son-in-law.
Accusations from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) suggest that Sirika abused his power by favoring a company linked to his daughter and son-in-law. Allegedly, contracts were awarded to this company for airport construction projects and consultancy roles in the failed establishment of the national carrier, Nigerian Air.
All three defendants pleaded not guilty to the six charges brought against them at the High Court in Abuja and were granted bail. The conditions include a 100 million naira ($70,000; £56,000) bond each and a travel ban.
This case marks another high-profile corruption scandal in Nigeria, following charges against former central bank governor Godwin Emefiele. With President Bola Tinubu’s recent inauguration in May 2023 came promises to combat corruption, a persistent issue in Nigerian politics.
Sirika’s tenure as aviation minister, which began in August 2019, has now come under intense scrutiny amid these legal proceedings.”
