*Says he must account for N85 billion taxpayers’ fund
An anti-corruption crusader, Global Peace Movement International, UK has asked anti-graft agencies, especially the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest the immediate past Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika over the fraudulent national carrier project called Nigeria Air.
GPMI, in a statement by its President General, Dr Mike Uyi , said the sham hurriedly unveiled by Sirika on May 26, 2023, the last official day of the Muhammadu Buhari administration as a clear indication of the deep-rooted corruption in the Federal Ministry of Aviation under the eight-year watch of the then Minister, Hadi Sirika.
Uyi said the EFCC should swing into action to probe the former Minister now that the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Aviation have separately declared that the project is a fraud.
The anti-corruption crusader said Hadi Sirika should at this point burry his face in shame and be colling in the anti-graft cell. He also warn Sirika to stop the lies he is telling against Air Peace.
“How can Hadi Sirika be walking free in Nigeria after the monumental destruction he caused in the aviation industry?. What kind of audacity does he have after pocketing N85 billion taxpayers’ fund to come.on air to lie against Air Peace Nigeria?”
Uyi noted that Sirika’s action is an act of deception and breach of trust that should not go unpunished.
He said, “Sirika’s Arise TV interview on Sunday clearly shows that he a blatant liar who is doing everything to justify the fraud he has committed. But unfortunately for him, records are there to prove him wrong.”
“Nigerians are wiser now and it is good that the management of Air Peace has issued a statement debunking Hadi Sirika’s lied about some of the claims he made on Air Peace during his Sunday Arise TV interview”.
Recall that Air Peace had issued a statement through its Chief Operating Officer, Toyin Olajide, where it clarified its positions on some of the claims on capacity made by Sirika.
But Uyi said, Hadi Sirika must be brought to face the law, noting that it is also a disregard for the rule of law and entire justice system to proceed on a matter against order of a competent court of law.
“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 and pocket billions to himself.”