Ex-Minister Sirika Bypassed Due Process in Contract Award, Court Hears

Hadi Sirika, Nigeria's former minister of aviation, allegedly violated due process in awarding a contract to a company owned by a friend, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) testified in court. Christopher Odofin, the EFCC's 12th prosecution witness, stated that the contract, initially awarded to Tanaero Nigeria Limited (TNL) for over 299 million naira (approximately $200,000 USD), was later extended on Sirika's instructions.

“

On Mr Sirika’s instructions, the extension pushed the total contract above N599 million, the witness said, adding that the action constituted a violation of due process.

Odofin detailed how the contract extension, which occurred on October 17, 2022, pushed the total value of the contract above 599 million naira (approximately $400,000 USD). This action, according to the witness, constituted a violation of due process. The EFCC is prosecuting Sirika, his daughter Fatima Sirika, her husband Jalal Hamma, and their firm Al Buraq Global Investment on six counts of contract fraud involving a total of 2.8 billion naira (approximately $1.9 million USD). One charge accuses Sirika of using his position to unfairly benefit TNL for the Nigeria Air project.

During his testimony, Odofin presented evidence, including a voice note attributed to Sirika, indicating his insistence that the contract be awarded to TNL. The Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, under Sirika's leadership, issued two contract award letters to TNL. Crucially, the first award letter was dated April 4, 2022, while the ministry's request for a "no objection" certificate from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) was dated March 7, 2022, and the BPP's response was received on April 7, 2022. This timeline indicates the contract was awarded before the BPP officially responded.

“

My lord, this letter of request to BPP is dated 7 March 2022. Response to this request from the BPP is dated 6 April 2022, and the same response was received officially in the Ministry on the 7th April 2022, while the award of the contract to Tianaero is dated 4th April 2022. Before the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development received a response from BPP, the contract award letter had already gone out to Tianaero Limited.

Furthermore, Odofin highlighted that the BPP was not informed about the contract's extension. He also noted that full payment was made to TNL despite the company being registered only a year prior to the contract award, with its registration date being March 29. Sirika reportedly chose this relatively new company for the contract.

“

It is important to also state that Tianaero Nigeria Limited was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission on the 29th Marc