The Federal Capital Territory High Court was informed by a prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Aviation Minister Hadi Abubakar Sirika that the former minister had violated due process when consulting contracts related to the Nigeria Air project were awarded.
The revelation was made on Wednesday during testimony before Justice S.C. Oriji in Abuja by the witness, Christopher Odofin, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Sirika is on trial with his daughter Fatima Hadi Sirika, son-in-law Hamma Jalal Sule, and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited on modified six-count allegations that include alleged misuse of over N2 billion in public funds and abuse of office. Odofin, the 12th prosecution witness, informed the court that Sirika gave Tianaero Nigeria Limited a N299 million consulting contract for services pertaining to Nigeria Air and then authorised an additional N599 million contract extension for the same business without adhering to established procurement procedures.
The witness claims that on March 7, 2022, the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development sent a letter to the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) requesting a Certificate of No Objection for the hiring of consultants. On April 4, 2022, he claimed, the government gave Tianaero the contract before hearing anything from the BPP.
“The contract award letter had already been sent to Tianaero Limited before the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development received a response from BPP,” Odofin said the court.
He further claimed that the company’s subsequent N599 million contract renewal was not disclosed to the BPP.
The witness further stated that complete payment for both contracts was received by Tianaero Nigeria Limited, which is owned by German citizen Gabriel Tilmann, whom he characterised as Sirika’s close acquaintance.
According to Odofin, the N599 million contract renewal was paid in two installments between October and December 2022 through the company’s Guarantee Trust Bank account, whilst the initial N299 million contract was paid in four tranches between May and July 2022 through the Access Bank account.
The witness contended that there was little proof of observable results from the Nigeria Air project despite the payments.
Additionally, he told the court that just one year before to receiving the contracts, on March 29, 2021, Tianaero Nigeria Limited incorporated with the Corporate Affairs Commission.
“It’s crucial to note, my lord, that Tianaero Nigeria Limited registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission on March 29, 2021, just one year prior to the company receiving these contracts,” he stated.
When prosecutors tried to play a compact disc purportedly containing a verbal directive from Sirika telling the ministry’s permanent secretary to make sure Tianaero Nigeria Limited was given the contracts, the proceedings were momentarily halted. Technical issues prevented the recording from being played, thus it was postponed until the following hearing date.
After upon, Justice Oriji postponed the trial until July 8 and 9, 2026.
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