How Sirika violated due process in awarding Nigeria Air contracts — Witness

Christopher Odofin, the 12th Prosecution Witness (PW12) in the ongoing trial of Hadi Sirika, a former Minister of Aviation, has revealed how the former minister violated due process in the N299 million contract he awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited for consultancy services for Nigeria Air. Odofin, an investigator with the EFCC, also disclosed that Sirika […]

Christopher Odofin, the 12th Prosecution Witness (PW12) in the ongoing trial of Hadi Sirika, a former Minister of Aviation, has revealed how the former minister violated due process in the N299 million contract he awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited for consultancy services for Nigeria Air.

Odofin, an investigator with the EFCC, also disclosed that Sirika violated due process in the payment of the additional N599 million contract he awarded to the same company for the contract extension, stressing that he ignored the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) totally with regard to the second contract award.

The witness, who stated this before Justice S.C. Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, explained that Sirika had completely awarded the first contract to Tianaero Nigeria Limited for consultancy services for Nigeria Air before notifying the BPP.

Daily Trust reports that Sirika is the first defendant facing prosecution by the EFCC on amended six-count charges bordering on abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of over N2 billion.

The former minister is being prosecuted alongside his daughter, Fatima Hadi Sirika, son-in-law, Hamma Jalal Sule, and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited.

Speaking during the court proceedings, the investigator, in his testimony-in-chief, disclosed that the first contract award letter to the company was dated April 4, 2022, while the second award letter was dated April 6, 2022.

Giving further testimony, the witness revealed that both contract sums were paid in full to Tianaero Nigeria Limited, even as nothing is available to show as Nigeria Air.

The first contract, he said, was paid in four tranches, covering the period from May 1, 2022, to July 22, 2022, into the company’s Access Bank account, while the second was paid off in two instalments, covering the period between October and December 2022, into the Guaranty Trust Bank account of the company.

According to him, though the contractor company was registered in Nigeria, it was disclosed to have barely existed for one year when Sirika chose it as the best fit for the establishment of Nigeria’s national carrier.

Justice Oriji adjourned the matter till July 8 and 9, 2026, for continuation of the trial.