The trial of former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Abubakar Sirika on alleged abuse of office in the award of ₦599M consultancy contract by the Federal Ministry of Aviation took a new dimension on Thursday when a witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, Christopher Odofin admitted at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory that Sirika was not a signatory to the award of the contract
He also told the Court that from the face of the documents relating to the disputed contract, there was nothing to show Sirika’s name or suggesting his implication in the contract issues.
Odofin, an investigator with EFCC gave the explanations while being cross examined by a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice AGF, Kanu Agabi SAN during the continuation of trial of the former Minister.
Besides, when confronted with documents tendered by EFCC in support of the trial, Odofin admitted that the letter of contract award was not signed by the former minister and that
Sirika was also not a member of the Ministerial Tenders Board of the Aviation Ministry that awarded the contract in dispute.
He told the court that on the face of the contract award document, there was nothing to show that Director of Procurement in the ministry who signed the contract papers ought not to have signed the contract.
The witness said the former Minister was charged to court because of his oral instruction on the contract for N599million which he said, was beyond threshold, alleging that the contract was awarded to Sirika’s associate.
On the voice note extracted from the phone of the former Permanent Secretary of the Aviation Ministry, Mr Abel Enitan, the witness admitted that the telephone where the voice extraction was carried out was not before the court and that there was no evidence that what was extracted from the phone was served on the owner of the phone.
He admitted that the EFCC completed its investigation as at April 26, 2024 when the charges against the defendants were filed before the court but however, told the court that he was not aware of the series of additional proofs of evidence filed by the prosecution after the charge had been filed.
He also said that he was not aware of how 11 persons listed as witnesses in the initial proof of evidence was increased to 20.
Answering questions from the counsel to the second defendant, Efut Okoi, Odofin admitted that Sirika’s daughter, Fatima, charged along with him was not the Chief Executive Officer of Al Buraq Global Investment Limited that was awarded the contract for the expansion of apron at the Katsina Airport.
He also said that the digital forensic report used in filing the charges was not prepared by him but by one Bello Gideon.
He told the court that he did not extract extrajudicial statements from officers of Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Airport Authority and Katina State government on the expansion of the Katsina Airport apron.
He told the court that as of the time of awarding the contract for the expansion of the apron to Al Buraq Global Investment, Abel Enitan was Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation and the Chairman of the Ministerial Tenders Noard.
Meanwhile, Justice Sylvanus Oriji has adjourned the case to October 20 and 28 for the continuation of cross examination of the witness.
Hadi Sirika is being prosecuted before Justice Sylvanus Oriji, sitting at Maitama, Abuja, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with his daughter, Fatima and son-in-law, Hamma Jalal Sule, and a company allegedly owned by the couple, Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, on a six-count charge bordering on abuse of office and contract fraud to the tune of N2.8billion.
He was alleged to have abused his office as a Minister to confer unfair advantage on Al Buraq Global Investment Limited by using his position to influence award of contract for the apron extension at the Katsina Airport for the sum of N1,498,300,750, among other alleged offences.
These, according to EFCC, were contrary to the provisions of Sections 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and Section 17(b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004, as well as Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532 Acts of the Federal Capital Territory and punishable under the same sections.
However, the former minister and his co-defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them.
