The former minister of aviation has been targeted for quick arrest and a full inquiry into his involvement in the Nigeria Air affair, according to the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF).
In a statement, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, National President of AYCF, stressed that Sirika and his associates should not be absolved of the disgrace they caused Nigeria as a country and that Nigeria is not a banana republic where everything goes.
He pointed out that the recent admission by the airline’s interim managing director, Captain Dapo Olumide, that the plane used for the unveiling of Nigeria Air was rented from Ethiopian Airlines, was a slap in the face to Nigerians, came during his appearance before the Senate Committee on Aviation.
He pointed out that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should intervene promptly by detaining the former aviation minister for appropriate interrogation and prosecution rather than having him tour media outlets and offer unconvincing explanations.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has already shown that things won’t be done in Nigeria as usual, so the statement said, “He should also go further by ordering the anti-graft agency to bring Former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika to book to serve as deterrent to others moving forward.”
It was stated that Sirika’s actions amounted to deception and a breach of trust that should not go unpunished, and that he must be brought before the law because of his complete disregard for the law and the entire justice system by moving forward with the unveiling in defiance of the directive of an appropriate court of law.
The statement went on to say that if he had listened to advise, the national disgrace and resource waste suffered by the nation would have been avoided.
He said that the forum would have no choice but to file a lawsuit against the former Minister if the EFCC refused to heed this national appeal and take the necessary steps right away.
He said that until he is brought to justice, they would also organize CSOs, activists, NGOs, students, and other groups to protest in the streets around the nation.