November 03, (THEWILL) — The trial of former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, took a dramatic turn on Monday as a prosecution witness told an Abuja High Court that there was no record showing the ex-minister approved or signed any contract awards while in office.
Sirika, his brother Ahmad, and two firms,Al-Buraq Limited and Enginos Nigeria Limited, are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged abuse of office, criminal breach of trust, and unlawful award of contracts worth N19.4 billion.
The anti-graft agency alleges that Sirika influenced the award of contracts to companies linked to his brother, including a N1.3 billion terminal building project and a N3.8 billion fire-truck maintenance centre at Katsina Airport—actions said to contravene public procurement laws.
All defendants have pleaded not guilty.
Testifying on Monday, Director of Compliance at the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Isaiah Yesufu, said there was no documented evidence indicating that Sirika personally authorised or communicated any contract approvals.
Yesufu explained that under the Public Procurement Act, ensuring due-process compliance is the duty of the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, not the minister, who is not even a member of the Ministerial Tenders Board (MTB).
Yesufu stated, “The minister is not a member of the Ministerial Tenders Board. The board’s decisions are not forwarded to ministers for implementation.”
When asked if Sirika approved any tenders, Yesufu replied, “I don’t have any confirmation to show that the minister gave approval for the board’s decisions.”
He further confirmed that in his statement to the EFCC, he never mentioned Sirika as being involved in the contract process and noted that no member of the tender board had been indicted.
“I know the first defendant did not participate in the board proceedings.
He did not sign or issue any letter of contract award,” Yesufu maintained.
Following an application by counsel to the second defendant, Ufut Okoya, Justice Suleiman Belgore adjourned further cross-examination to December 10.
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