A witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has presented evidence before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja against former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika.
The EFCC is prosecuting Sirika alongside his daughter, Fatima, and son-in-law, Jalal Sule Hamma, on a six-count amended charge of alleged contract fraud amounting to N2.8 billion.
According to the prosecution, Sirika allegedly used his ministerial position to award a contract to Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, a company linked to his daughter and son-in-law. The contract, valued at N1.49 billion, was for the Apron Extension at Katsina Airport.
Testifying under cross-examination on Monday, a retired director in the Ministry of Aviation’s procurement department, Musa Odiniyan, told the court that the company would not have qualified for the contract if open and competitive bidding had been conducted.
“We use certain criteria to assess companies during the bidding process. I maintain that if this had been an open competitive bid, Al Buraq would not have qualified,” Odiniyan said.
He further disclosed that the company was paid in full for the project, with the expectation that it would be completed before the end of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in 2023.
“The contract was awarded during the twilight of the Buhari administration, with a completion period of six months. The reason for the prompt payment was to ensure the project would be completed and inaugurated before the administration ended, not for any variation,” he explained.
Following the witness’s testimony, the presiding judge adjourned the case to March 10, 2025, for the continuation of the cross-examination.