Alleged N2bn fraud: EFCC witness tells court Sirika bypassed due process in Nigeria air contracts

A prosecution witness told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja that Hadi Abubakar Sirika, former Minister of Aviation, violated procurement procedures in the award and extension of consultancy contracts linked to the controversial Nigeria Air project.

Christopher Odofin, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alleged before Sylvanus Oriji (Justice) that Sirika awarded contracts worth N898 million to Tianaero Nigeria Limited without adhering to the required approval process involving the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

Sirika is currently facing trial on amended six-count charges bordering on alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds exceeding N2 billion.

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

Testifying as the 12th prosecution witness, Odofin said EFCC investigations revealed that the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development awarded a N299 million consultancy contract to Tianaero Nigeria Limited on April 4, 2022, and subsequently granted the same company an additional N599 million contract extension on April 6, 2022.

According to the witness, the ministry had formally written to the Bureau of Public Procurement on March 7, 2022, seeking a Certificate of No Objection for the engagement of consultants for the Nigeria Air project.

However, the BPP’s response was dated April 6, 2022 and was officially received by the ministry on April 7, 2022, three days after the first contract had already been awarded.

Odofin told the court that the timeline indicated that the ministry proceeded with the contract award before receiving the regulatory clearance required under public procurement laws.

“Before the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development received a response from the Bureau of Public Procurement, the contract award letter had already gone out to Tianaero Nigeria Limited,” he testified.

He further alleged that while the BPP was eventually informed about the initial contract request, it was completely excluded from the process relating to the N599 million contract extension awarded to the same company.

The EFCC investigator also disclosed that Tianaero Nigeria Limited received full payment for both contracts despite the fact that the Nigeria Air project never materialised into an operational national carrier.

According to his testimony, payments for the first contract were made in four tranches between May 1 and July 22, 2022 through the company’s Access Bank account, while the contract extension was settled in two instalments between October and December 2022 through its Guaranty Trust Bank account.

Odofin further informed the court that Tianaero Nigeria Limited was owned by a German national, Gabriel Tilmann, whom he described as a close friend and associate of the former minister.

The witness also raised concerns about the company’s experience and suitability for the assignment, revealing that Tianaero Nigeria Limited had been registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission on March 29, 2021, barely one year before it was selected to provide consultancy services for the establishment of Nigeria’s proposed national airline.

“My lord, it is important to state that Tianaero Nigeria Limited was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission on March 29, 2021, barely one year before these contracts were awarded to the company,” he said.

Proceedings were expected to feature the presentation of a compact disc allegedly containing a verbal directive from Sirika instructing the ministry’s permanent secretary to ensure that the contracts were awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited.

However, the audio recording could not be played in court due to technical glitches, prompting the court to defer its presentation to a later date.

Oriji adjourned the case until July 8 and 9, 2026, for continuation of trial.