In view of recent charges about aviation contracts under their government, social activist Aisha Yesufu has stirred up a storm of controversy by recommending that former President Muhammadu Buhari and his former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, be prosecuted together.
The request for shared responsibility is made at the same time as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is stepping up its legal defense of Sirika, who is accused of corrupt behavior along with members of her family and business acquaintances.
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The EFCC charged Sirika, his daughter Fatima, his son-in-law Jalal Sule Hamma, and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited with giving unfair benefits to Sirika’s brother and his business, Enginos Nigeria Limited, according to a previous story from THE Matrix.
The allegations include payments for aviation contracts that remain unfulfilled, with no evidence of work conducted to date.
Adding to the controversy, the current Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, denounced the Nigeria Air project—an initiative from the Buhari administration—as a fraudulent scheme.
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According to Keyamo, the project, which was intended to establish a national carrier and boost national pride, was marred by secrecy and mismanagement.
In a statement on her X handle, Yesufu criticized the focus on Sirika alone, arguing that to ignore Buhari’s involvement would constitute selective prosecution.
“Prosecuting Hadi Sirika without prosecuting Muhammadu Buhari is selective prosecution,” Yesufu stated, calling for equal scrutiny of all parties involved in the alleged corruption.
