Concerned Northern Forum has called for the arrest and prosecution of Hadi Sirika, the immediate-past Minister of Aviation, over his alleged involvement in the questionable Nigeria Air project.
The alleged debut of Nigeria Air towards the end of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari’s government was characterized as a hoax by the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation two days ago.
The senators reached this decision after the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) management revealed that the aircraft Sirika presented as Nigeria’s national career was a hired plane from Ethiopia Airlines.
Against this backdrop, the northern bloc urged that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arrest and prosecute the former aviation minister.
In a statement by its chairman, Ali Muhammad, on Thursday, June 8, 2023, the group described Sirika as a tyrant, who went ahead with the failed national carrier project despite advice against it by aviation experts and operators.
“The former minister has acted with so much impunity on several occasions as if the law cannot get to him. He had continuously operated as a tyrant minister, refusing to listen to no one, aviation experts, and airline operators of Nigeria who advised against this project, the group said.
“This national embarrassment and waste of resources incurred on the country would have been averted if he had listened to advice, yet Sirika went ahead knowing it was a charade, to deceive Nigerians.
“This is an alleged fraud, very much within the reach of the EFCC and the anti-graft agency should, as a matter of national urgency, immediately arrest and investigate Sirika for allegedly committing financial and other related crimes, as he has been deceiving Nigerians for eight years.’’