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A witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has presented evidence before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja against former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika.
The witness alleged that Sirika awarded contracts to a company associated with his son-in-law, Jalal Sule Hamma.
According to News Bulletin, the EFCC is prosecuting Sirika, his daughter Fatima, and son-in-law Hamma on a six-count amended charge related to contract fraud amounting to N2,825,032,220.97.
The prosecution claims Sirika used his position to favour Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, a company linked to his daughter and son-in-law, by influencing the award of a contract for the Apron Extension at Katsina Airport, valued at N1,498,300,750.
During cross-examination on Monday, Musa Odiniyan, a retired director from the Ministry of Aviation’s procurement department, stated that Al Buraq Global Investment Limited would not have qualified for the bidding process under open and competitive bidding standards.
“We use specific criteria for awarding contracts. I still maintain that if it were open competitive bidding, Al Buraq may not have qualified,” Odiniyan said.
He further testified that Sirika’s son-in-law’s company received full payment for the project to ensure its completion before the end of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in 2023.
“The contract letter was issued to the company (Al Buraq) towards the end of the Buhari administration. That’s why it had a six-month duration. The reason for the full payment was to ensure the project was completed and inaugurated before Buhari left office, not for the purpose of variation,” the witness explained.
The court has adjourned the case until March 10, 2025, for the continuation of the cross-examination.