The trial of former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika over an alleged ₦2.7 billion fraud continued at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, with the court listening to an audio recording that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says captured the former minister discussing a consultancy arrangement with a senior ministry official.
Justice S.C. Oriji heard the recording during proceedings as the prosecution’s 12th witness, EFCC Assistant Commander Christopher Odofin, testified under cross-examination by defence counsel Rotimi Jacobs (SAN).
Odofin told the court that the voice in the recording belonged to Sirika and that it was a voice note allegedly sent by the former minister from Spain to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Aviation, Enitan Abel.
According to the witness, the recording featured Sirika discussing a consultancy arrangement involving Prof. Gabriel Tilman, whom he described as the alter ego of Tinaero Nigeria Limited.
The witness said Sirika was heard saying he would assign someone identified as Yasir, whom Odofin described as the former minister’s cousin, to guide Tilman on how consultancy work was carried out in Nigeria.
Odofin further testified that Sirika described Tilman as someone who was “comfortable” with the ministry and referred to him as a close friend. The witness said the recording also suggested Tilman was unpopular among some ministry officials, citing Sirika’s remark that “some people did not like him.”
The EFCC investigator also told the court that Tinaero Nigeria Limited was incorporated about a year before it received two government contracts, describing the timeline as significant to the prosecution’s case.
Following the testimony, Justice Oriji admitted into evidence an order freezing the Zenith Bank accounts of the third defendant, Hamma Jalal Sule, and the fourth defendant, Al Buraq Investment Global Limited.
Sirika is standing trial alongside his daughter, Fatima Hadi Sirika; his son-in-law, Hamma Jalal Sule; and Al Buraq Investment Global Limited over allegations of fraud involving about ₦2.7 billion. The defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
During further cross-examination by counsel to the first defendant, Kanu Agabi (SAN), Odofin identified an earlier admitted exhibit as a letter from the Ministry of Aviation requesting a no-objection certificate from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to adopt selective tendering for critical capital projects. He confirmed the document was signed by the Permanent Secretary, Enitan Abel.
The witness also identified another exhibit as the BPP’s response approving the ministry’s request. Under questioning, Odofin acknowledged that neither of the two procurement documents made any reference to Sirika.
The case was adjourned for the continuation of trial.
