EFCC summons ex-Aviation minister Sirika over Air Nigeria fiasco

EFCC summons ex-Aviation minister Sirika over Air Nigeria fiasco

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has summoned former Minister of Aviation Senator Hadi Sirika, for questioning over controversial establishment of Nigeria Air.

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

It was gathered that 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, garbed in Ethiopian colours, the commission had already grilled some supposed officials of the national carrier.

Spokesman for EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed that there was an ongoing investigation but could not give further details.

“I can confirm that there is an ongoing investigation in that regard,” he said.

A report by ThisDay quoted sources as saying that the commission would look at the N3bn sunk into the project though some stakeholders insisted that over N80 billion was expended on the project.

The minister at the twilight of the Buhari administration announced the launch of the Nigerian Air in Abuja with flying in of an Ethiopian aircraft.

Many people expressed shock over an Ethiopian Airline plane that landed in Nigeria with Ethiopian colours packaged as a national carrier.

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

The EFCC source said, “We have already questioned some officials of Nigerian Air.

“We have invited the former Aviation minister, Hadi Sirika. We are expecting him within the week.”

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said last week that the Nigeria Air was still on the first stage of a five-phase process of obtaining Air Operator Certificate (AOC).

The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) had also opposed the idea on several grounds.