A prosecution witness, Mr. Christopher Odifin, has told an Abuja High Court that former Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika did not sign the documents awarding the ₦599 million consultancy contract by the Federal Ministry of Aviation.
Sirika is on trial with his daughter, Fatima, his son-in-law, Hamma Sule, and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited. They face allegations of abuse of office and contract fraud involving about ₦2.8 billion.
Odifin, who testified for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, also conceded that the contract documents before the court did not, on their face, show Sirika’s direct involvement in the award process.
Under cross-examination by Sirika’s counsel, Mr. Kanu Agabi, SAN, Odifin confirmed that the letter awarding the contract was not signed by Sirika.
He also agreed that the former minister was not a member of the Ministerial Tenders Board responsible for the award.
“The defendant was charged because he approved the contract of N599million which was beyond his threshold and it was awarded to the defendant’s associate,” he said.
On a voice note, extracted from the phone of the former Permanent Secretary, Mr. Abel Enitan, the witness said the phone itself was not before the court.
He also accepted that the EFCC finished its investigation by April 26, 2024, when the charges were filed, but said he knew nothing of the additional proof of evidence the prosecution filed afterwards.
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Answering questions from the counsel to the second defendant, Efut Okoya, Odifin admitted that Sirika’s daughter, Fatima, was not the Chief Executive Officer of Al Buraq Global Investment Limited.
He said the digital forensic report used to file the charge was prepared by one Bello Gideon, not by him. He also told the court that he did not take extrajudicial statements from officers of the Nigerian Air Force, the airport authority or the Katsina State government on the expansion of the Katsina Airport apron.
“As at the time of awarding the contract for the expansion of the apron to Al Buraq Global Investment, Enitan was permanent secretary of the ministry of aviation and the chairman of the ministerial tenders board,” he said.
Justice Sylvanus Oriji adjourned the case until Oct. 20 for continued cross-examination of the witness.
NAN reports that the EFCC accuses Sirika of using his position as Minister of Aviation to give an unfair advantage to Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, a company allegedly linked to his family.
One of the disputed transactions is a contract valued at ₦1,498,300,750 for extending the apron at Katsina Airport.
The anti-graft agency alleges that the former minister improperly influenced the award of the contract, along with other transactions that form the basis of a six-count charge.
It says the alleged offences breach Sections 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000; Section 17(b) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004; and Section 315 of the Penal Code Act applicable in the Federal Capital Territory.
Sirika and his co-defendants have pleaded not guilty.
NAN
