Alleged N19.4 billion fraud: Procurement Director testifies against Ex-Aviation Minister, Sirika 

A Director of Certification, Compliance, and Monitoring at the BPP, Mr. Isaiah Yesufu, disclosed this during his testimony before a Federal Capital Territory High Court on Monday, according to a NAN report.

Naijaonpoint previously reported in May 2024 that Hadi Sirika and his brother, Ahmad, had pleaded not guilty to a fresh fraud charge instituted against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before the High Court.

The arraignment took place before Justice Sulaiman Belgore.

Naijaonpoint reports that Sirika and his daughter were also arraigned before Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the FCT High Court over fraudulent practices associated with the Nigeria Air debacle.

In the EFCC’s 10-count charge, Sirika was accused of conferring an unfair advantage on his brother while using him as leverage to divert billions from the Federal Ministry of Aviation.

The anti-graft agency also alleged that the former Minister engaged in the “illegal award” of contracts.

Count one of the charges reads: 

“That you, HADI ABUBAKAR SIRIKA, while being Minister of Aviation, on or about 3rd November 2022, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did use your position to confer an unfair advantage upon ENGINOS NIGERIA LIMITED, whose alter ego, AHMAD ABUBAKAR SIRIKA, is your blood brother, by using your position to influence the award to them of the contract for the establishment of a Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre at Katsina Airport for the sum of N3,811,497,685.00 (Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Eleven Million, Four Hundred and Ninety-Seven Thousand, Six Hundred and Eighty-Five Naira Only), and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and punishable under the same section.” 

The defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges, paving the way for trial.

“The Bureau was not aware of how a single contract, titled ‘Construction of Katsina Airport Terminal Building and Apron,’ was eventually awarded as two separate contracts,” he said. 

“I became aware of the split of the contract when I was invited by the EFCC, where I made the statement,” he added. 

NAIJAONPOINT confirmed to the court that Enginos Nigeria Limited was awarded the contract to construct the Katsina airport terminal building.

The prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), then asked the court for an adjournment to enable him to sort out some documents.

Counsel for the defendants did not object to the call for an adjournment.

Justice Belgore subsequently adjourned the case until April 8 for the continuation of the trial.

Justice Belgore subsequently adjourned the case until April 8 for the continuation of the trial.

Last year, the EFCC said its operatives arrested Abubakar Ahmad Sirika, the brother of Hadi Sirika, over an alleged contract fraud in the aviation ministry.

The EFCC is empowered by law to track financial crimes, while every accused person remains innocent until found guilty by a competent court.

Sirika served as aviation minister from August 22, 2019, to May 29, 2023.