By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has extended invitation to the immediate past Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, to offer clarifications on the controversy surrounding the controversial Nigeria Air project described by the Parliament as a “scam”.
The former Minister had claimed that the project gulped a whopping N3bn ($6.4m) a figure some stakeholders believe may have been corruptly under-reported.
They are alleging that over N80 billion was expended on the project formally launched with a chattered aircraft belonging to Ethiopian Air painted in Nigerian colours on May 29, a day after the immediate past administration ended.
Sirika, a former parliamentary member, is expected to appear before the anti-graft agency within the week.
“I can confirm that there is an ongoing investigation in that regard,” a source told Guardian.
The anti-graft agency had also questioned officials of Nigerian Air over the recent launch of the airline in Abuja.
“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 source added.
Sources says the EFCC had already grilled some supposed officials of the national carrier ahead of Sirika’s appearance.
Stakeholders have expressed dissatisfaction with the haste under which the Nigeria Air was launched despite court order retraining the government to launch the project.
Criticism has trailed the unveiling of the project with a chattered aircraft parked as a national carrier.
The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation in the ninth National Assembly described the project as a scam.
The former minister had said at a recent TV interview that the landing of the Ethiopian aircraft in Abuja was just “a marketing strategy.”
