Nigeria Air Scandal: AYCF calls for arrest of Hadi Sirika

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has called for the immediate arrest of the former Minister of Aviation and his thorough investigation on the role he played in the Nigeria Air Scandal.

A statement issued by the National President of AYCF, Alhaji Yerima Shettima in Kaduna yesterday, the Forum averred that Nigeria is not a Banana Republic, where anything goes, stressing that the likes of Hadi Sirika and his cohorts should not be let go of the embarrassment caused Nigeria as a nation.

Shettima recalled that the recent revelation by the interim MD of the so called “Nigerian Airline” Captain Dapo Olumide, when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Aviation, where he stated that the Nigeria Air aircraft used for unveiling of the Nigeria Air was rented from Ethiopian Airline.

The group said it was a slap on Nigerian faces, hence perpetrators should not be allowed to go free.

He observed that rather than the former aviation minister going round media houses giving unsatisfactory explanations, the EFCC should Wade into the matter urgently by arresting him for proper questioning.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinunbu has already started demonstration that it is no longer going to be business as usual in Nigeria, he should also order immediately the anti graft agency to bring Former minister of aviation, Hadi Sirika to book to serve as a deterrent to others going forward.

“The action of Hadi Sirika amounts to deception and breach of trust that should not go un-punished, He must be made to face the law, particularly in the face of absolute disregard to the rule of law and the entire justice system and proceeding on the. Umveioing against the order of a competent court of law.

“This national embarrassment and waste of resources incurred in the country would have been averted if he had listened to advices, yet Hadi Sirika went ahead knowing it was a charade, to deceive Nigerians and pocket billions to himself”.

AYCF President said, in the event that the EFCC fails to yield to this national call and do the needful with immediate effect, it will be left with no option but to take legal action against the former Minister until he is made to pay for the embarrassment he has caused the country.

“ We will also mobilize CSOs, activists, NGOs, Students and others to take to the streets across the country until he is brought to book. But we hope we will not be pushed to the wall to take such action enough of this embarrassment”.