The N2.7 billion contract fraud trial of the former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, began on Monday with testimony from Azubuike Okorie, a former Director of Procurement in the Federal Ministry of Aviation.
Sirika is on trial alongside his daughter, Fatima, son-in-law, Jalal Hamma, and their company, Al-Buraq Investment Limited. They face six counts of contract fraud, brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC alleges that Sirika abused his ministerial position to confer undue advantages on his daughter, son-in-law, and their company by awarding contracts to them.
Testifying before Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, Okorie stated that a N1.4 billion Apron Extension contract at Katsina Airport was not executed up to his retirement on May 23, 2023. "As of the time I left civil service on May 23, 2023, the contract was not executed, to the best of my knowledge," Okorie told the court.
Okorie, who served as Special Assistant on Projects to Sirika from 2022 to 2023, and chaired the Project Implementation Committee, responsible for monitoring and evaluating projects, identified Al-Buraq Investment Limited as a contractor awarded jobs by the aviation ministry.
He recounted a visit to Katsina Airport for project monitoring, where his committee found no contractors, including Al-Buraq, on site. "When we got there (Katsina Airport), we had a list of other contractors who were supposed to be on the ground, including Al-Buraq. My Lord, we did not find any of them on site then," he said.
Okorie explained that before awarding a contract, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria must secure land with a Certificate of Occupancy. However, a conflict between the Nigerian Air Force and the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria delayed land acquisition, preventing contractors from accessing the site.
Despite these issues, Okorie noted that Al-Buraq Investment Limited had already received 30 percent of the contract sum as a mobilization fee. "As Chairman, Project Implementation Committee, I was not involved in payments. Payments are made in stages until a contractor finishes the contract," he added.
The lead defense counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), requested an adjournment to cross-examine the witness, which the court granted.
Stay tuned to GLiDE NEWS for further updates on this case and other significant legal developments.
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