An investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has admitted before an Abuja High Court that he was unaware of a land dispute between the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, over the site of a contract awarded to Al Buraq Global Investment Limited at the Katsina airport.
The admission came during the cross-examination of the EFCC’s 12th prosecution witness, Christopher Odofin, in the ongoing trial of former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, and three others over an alleged N2.8 billion contract fraud.
Testifying before Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, sitting in Maitama, Abuja, Odofin also confirmed that investigators did not interview personnel of either the Air Force or FAAN, nor officials of the Katsina State Ministry of Lands, during their investigation into the alleged offences.
Under questioning by counsel to Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, Michael Numa, SAN, the witness maintained that no land had been allocated for the proposed expansion of the airport apron.
He, however, admitted that he was unaware of any communication from the Katsina State Ministry of Lands confirming the allocation of land for the project.
Odofin also said he did not know whether the disputed land was being used by the Air Force or whether a disagreement between NAF and FAAN had prevented Al Buraq from mobilising to the site.
He further admitted that he was unaware that the dispute had been resolved, the contract re-awarded to Al Buraq, and the company subsequently directed to commence work.
Despite these gaps, the EFCC investigator insisted that the investigation was thorough and that all relevant documents submitted to him had been included in the proof of evidence before the court.
Sirika is standing trial alongside his daughter, Fatima Hadi Sirika; his son-in-law, Hamman Jalal Sule; and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, allegedly owned by the couple. The defendants face a six-count charge bordering on abuse of office and alleged contract fraud involving N2.8 billion.
The EFCC accused the former minister of using his position to confer an unfair advantage on Al Buraq in the award of a contract for the extension of the Katsina airport apron, valued at N1.498 billion, among other alleged offences.
During Wednesday’s proceedings, Odofin told the court that investigators interviewed the ministry’s then Permanent Secretary, Abel Enitan; its Director of Procurement, Musa Odiniya; and Azubuike Okorie, the first prosecution witness. He, however, confirmed that the statements obtained from them were not video-recorded.
The witness also maintained that the contracts for the airport’s terminal building and apron expansion were one and the same, while confirming that the Bureau of Public Procurement had approved the contracts.
He further told the court that the Federal Ministry of Aviation had no affiliations with Fatima Hadi Sirika and Hamman Jalal Sule, noting that their respective employers, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, had no authority over the ministry.
Odofin also confirmed that Al Buraq had other shareholders and directors apart from the two defendants, but none of them had been charged in the case.
Sirika and the other defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Justice Oriji has adjourned the case until November 18 for the continuation of Odofin’s cross-examination.
