The trial of former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, over an alleged ₦2.7 billion fraud continued yesterday at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) presenting an audio recording it claims links the former minister to the controversial Air Nigeria consultancy contract.
During the proceedings, the court listened to an audio recording allegedly containing a conversation between Sirika and a former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Aviation, Enitan Abel.
An EFCC investigator, who testified as a prosecution witness, identified the voice in the recording as that of Sirika and told the court that the discussion centered on a consultancy arrangement involving Tinaero Nigeria Limited, one of the companies at the heart of the prosecution’s case.
According to the witness, the recording forms part of the evidence gathered during the anti-graft agency’s investigation into the award of contracts connected to the proposed national carrier, Air Nigeria.
The investigator further testified that Tinaero Nigeria Limited was incorporated only about a year before it was awarded two government consultancy contracts by the Ministry of Aviation. He said the EFCC considers the timing of the company’s incorporation and the subsequent award of the contracts as a significant aspect of its case against the defendants.
However, under cross-examination by the defence counsel, the prosecution witness admitted that two procurement documents tendered as evidence did not contain Sirika’s name. The defence sought to rely on the omission to challenge the prosecution’s attempt to directly link the former minister to the procurement process.
The case is one of several legal battles arising from the Federal Government’s failed attempt to establish Air Nigeria as the country’s national carrier, a project launched during Sirika’s tenure as aviation minister.
Sirika is standing trial alongside his daughter, Fatima Sirika, his son-in-law, Jalal Sule Hamma, and Al-Buraq Global Investment Limited, a company allegedly linked to members of his family. The defendants are facing multiple charges bordering on abuse of office, contract fraud, criminal breach of trust and the alleged diversion of public funds amounting to about ₦2.7 billion. They have all pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charges.
Following the day’s proceedings, the court adjourned the matter for the continuation of trial, as the prosecution continues to present evidence in support of its case.
