KEY POINTS

• An EFCC investigator has defended the agency’s probe into alleged ₦2.8 billion contract fraud involving former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika and three others.
• The witness admitted that investigators did not interview personnel of the Nigerian Air Force, FAAN or Katsina State Ministry of Lands.
• The case concerns contracts for a terminal building and apron expansion at Katsina Airport.
• The investigator confirmed that the Bureau of Public Procurement approved the contracts but maintained they constituted one contract.
• The court adjourned the trial until November 18 for continuation of cross-examination.

MAIN STORY

An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigator has defended the agency’s investigation into alleged ₦2.8 billion contract fraud involving former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika and three others, despite acknowledging that investigators did not interview officials of three bodies connected to the Katsina Airport project.

Christopher Odofin, the 12th prosecution witness, made the statements on Wednesday during cross-examination at the FCT High Court in Abuja.

Sirika is being prosecuted alongside his daughter, Fatima, his son-in-law, Hamman Jalal Sule, and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, a company purportedly owned by the couple. They face a six-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office and contract fraud. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty.

During cross-examination by Michael Numa, SAN, counsel to Al Buraq, Odofin maintained that the investigation was thorough and that relevant documents had been collected for the prosecution’s case.

“To the best of my ability, the investigation was thorough. Also, to the best of my ability, all relevant documents were gathered.

“All materials submitted to me are in the proof of evidence,” Odofin told the court.

However, the investigator said he was unaware of a dispute between the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) over the contract site at Katsina Airport.

He also confirmed that investigators did not interview personnel of either organisation or officials of the Katsina State Ministry of Lands.

“We never interviewed personnel of Katsina State Ministry of Lands. We also did not interview personnel of the Nigeria Air Force and FAAN,” he said.

Odofin told the court that he did not know whether the land was being used by the Air Force or whether the military had sent documents about the matter to the EFCC.

He also said he was unaware that the dispute had been resolved, that the contract had been re-awarded to Al Buraq or that the company had been directed to proceed to the site.

The witness confirmed that the then Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Aviation, Abel Enitan, and the ministry’s Director of Procurement, Musa Odiniya, were interviewed during the investigation. Azubuike Okorie, the first prosecution witness, was also interviewed.

On the contracts for the Katsina Airport terminal building and apron expansion, Odofin maintained that they constituted one contract, even after being shown documents in court. He confirmed, however, that the Bureau of Public Procurement had approved the contracts.

He further told the court that the Ministry of Aviation had no affiliations with Fatima Hadi Sirika and Hamman Jalal Sule. He noted that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, where the two defendants respectively worked, had no authority over the Aviation Ministry.

Odofin also confirmed that Al Buraq had other shareholders and directors apart from Fatima and Sule, but none of those individuals was being prosecuted in the case.

Justice Sylvanus Oriji adjourned the matter until November 18 for continuation of the witness’s cross-examination.

THE ISSUES

The proceedings have drawn attention to the scope of the EFCC’s investigation, particularly the decision not to interview personnel of the Air Force, FAAN and the state lands ministry.

Those organisations could hold information relevant to the dispute over the Katsina Airport project site. The witness’s lack of knowledge about the land’s use and whether the dispute had been resolved leaves questions about what information investigators obtained concerning the project’s location and execution.

However, the absence of interviews does not, by itself, establish that the investigation was inadequate or that the allegations against the defendants are true or false. The court will have to assess the available documents and testimony in the context of the full case.

The distinction between the terminal building contract and the apron expansion contract is another issue raised during cross-examination. Odofin maintained that they constituted one contract, while confirming that the Bureau of Public Procurement approved the contracts. The significance of this evidence will depend on the documents and other testimony before the court.

The witness’s confirmation that Al Buraq had other shareholders and directors who were not being prosecuted also emerged during the proceedings. That fact alone does not determine the responsibility of any defendant, which remains a matter for the court.

WHAT’S BEING SAID

“To the best of my ability, the investigation was thorough. Also, to the best of my ability, all relevant documents were gathered.

All materials submitted to me are in the proof of evidence,” – Christopher Odofin, EFCC investigator and 12th prosecution witness.

“We never interviewed personnel of Katsina State Ministry of Lands. We also did not interview personnel of the Nigeria Air Force and FAAN.” – Christopher Odofin, EFCC investigator and 12th prosecution witness.

“I do not know if the land is being used by the Air Force. I am not aware that Air Force sent a document on that to EFCC.” – Christopher Odofin, EFCC investigator and 12th prosecution witness.

WHAT’S NEXT

The court is expected to resume proceedings on November 18 for the continuation of Odofin’s cross-examination.

Further questioning may address the documents gathered during the investigation, the contract arrangements and the dispute over the project site.

The allegations remain before the court, and the defendants have pleaded not guilty.

BOTTOM LINE

The EFCC investigator has maintained that the investigation was thorough while confirming that personnel of the Air Force, FAAN and Katsina State Ministry of Lands were not interviewed. The court will determine the significance of that evidence as the trial continues.

Source: NAN.