An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness has admitted that the previous Chairman of the Tenders Board of the Federal Ministry of Aviation, Abel Enitan, now Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, was not charged over the disputed contract for the growth of the Katsina Airport apron.
The witness, Christopher Odofin, made the admission I’m l throughout cross-examination on the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the place former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, is standing trial over alleged abuse of workplace and contract fraud.
Odofin additionally confirmed that the ministry’s former Director of Procurement, Musa Odiniya, who allegedly cleared the contract award, was not amongst these being prosecuted by the anti-graft company.
Enitan was the Permanent Secretary of the Aviation Ministry when the Federal Government awarded the contract to Al-Buraq Global Investment Limited.
Under cross-examination by Efut Okoi, counsel to the second defendant, Fatima Hadi Sirika, the witness admitted that neither Enitan nor Odiniya was standing trial over the disputed contract.
Okoi had requested whether or not the Tenders Board chairman, who signed the contract paperwork, and the Director of Procurement, who endorsed the award course of, had been going through prosecution for any alleged wrongdoing regarding the contract.
Responding, Odofin confirmed that each officers had not been charged in reference to the matter.
The witness additional admitted that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which now operates as a business entity, had not petitioned in opposition to any of the defendants.
Similarly, whereas being questioned by one other defence lawyer, P.A. Adewuyi, Odofin confirmed that the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) had not filed any petition in opposition to the defendants over the contract award.
The witness additionally acknowledged that the previous minister was not indicted on the face of the contract paperwork tendered by the EFCC to help its allegations.
He, nevertheless, maintained that Sirika was being prosecuted for alleged abuse of workplace primarily based on the result of the fee’s investigation.
Sirika is standing trial alongside his daughter, Fatima; his son-in-law, Hamma Jalal Sule; and Al-Buraq Global Investment Limited earlier than Justice Sylvanus Oriji on a six-count cost bordering on alleged abuse of workplace and contract fraud.
According to the EFCC, the previous minister abused his workplace by allegedly conferring an unfair benefit on Al-Buraq Global Investment Limited by his affect within the award of the contract for the growth of the Katsina Airport apron.
The contract was valued at N1,498,300,750.
During the proceedings, the witness was additionally requested about studies that the Federal Government had re-awarded the disputed contract to Al-Buraq Global Investment Limited on March 17, 2025.
Odofin stated he was unaware of the event.
Justice Oriji has adjourned the case till October 28 for the cross-examination of the witness by counsel to the fourth defendant, Al-Buraq Global Investment Limited.
Answering questions from one other lawyer, Mr P. A. Adewuyi, the witness additionally admitted that the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), didn’t file any petition in opposition to any of the defendant in respect of the contract award.
When reminded that the disputed contract for which Al-Buraq Global Investment Ltd was placed on trial by EFCC has since March 17, 2025 being re-awarded to the identical Al-Buraq Global Investment Ltd by the federal authorities, the witness stated he was not conscious of the event.
Sirika is charged alongside his daughter, Fatima and son-in-law, Hamma Jalal Sule and an organization, Al Buraq Global Investment Limited.
They are being prosecuted by EFCC, earlier than Justice Sylvanus Oriji on a six-count cost bordering on abuse of workplace and contract fraud.
The former minister, in keeping with EFCC, abused his workplace as minister by conferring unfair benefit upon Al Buraq Global Investment Limited by utilizing his place to affect the award of the contract for the apron extension at Katsina Airport for the sum of N1,498,300,750.
Meanwhile, Justice Sylvanus Oriji has mounted October 28, for cross examination of the witness by the 4th defendant, Al-Buraq Global Investment Ltd.
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