Mark Aba, Abuja
An investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Christopher Odofin, has told the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, that he was unaware of a dispute between the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) over the site allocated for the Katsina airport apron expansion project awarded to Al Buraq Global Investment Limited.
Odofin, the 12th prosecution witness (PW12) in the ongoing trial of former Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, and three others, also admitted that EFCC investigators did not interview officials of the Nigerian Air Force, FAAN or the Katsina State Ministry of Lands during their investigation.
The dispute between NAF and FAAN was reportedly responsible for the delay in the execution of the project before the Federal Government allegedly re-awarded the contract to the same company.
However, while being cross-examined by counsel to Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, Michael Numa, SAN, the witness said he had no knowledge of the disagreement or its impact on the company’s inability to mobilise to the project site.
“I am not aware of a dispute between the Air Force and FAAN over the land. I also do not know that the dispute prevented Al Buraq from moving to site. Also, I don’t know if the contract was re-awarded to Al Buraq and the company was asked to move to site,” he told the court.
Odofin further maintained that no land had been allocated for the expansion of the airport apron, insisting that his investigation did not establish the availability of a site for the project.
He admitted, however, that investigators did not interview officials of the Katsina State Ministry of Lands to establish whether land had been provided for the project.
“We never interviewed personnel of Katsina State Ministry of Lands. We also did not interview personnel of the Air Force and FAAN.
“I do not know if the land is being used by the Air Force. I am not aware that the Air Force sent a document on that to EFCC,” he said.
The witness added that he would be surprised if the Katsina State Ministry of Lands had provided land for the project and formally communicated the allocation to the EFCC.
Sirika is standing trial alongside his daughter, Fatima, his son-in-law, Hamman Jalal Sule, and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited before Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja.
The defendants are facing a six-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office and contract fraud involving N2.8 billion.
The EFCC accused the former minister of using his position to confer an unfair advantage on Al Buraq Global Investment Limited through the award of a contract for the expansion of the apron at Katsina airport valued at N1,498,300,750, among other alleged offences.
The commission alleged that the offences contravened Sections 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000; Section 17(b) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004; and Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the FCT.
Sirika and the other defendants have, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
At the resumed proceedings, Odofin insisted that the EFCC conducted a thorough investigation into the allegations and obtained relevant documents, which were included in the proof of evidence before the court.
“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,” he said.
He confirmed that investigators interviewed the former Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Aviation, Abel Enitan; the ministry’s Director of Procurement, Musa Odiniya; and Azubuike Okorie, the first prosecution witness in the case.
However, he admitted that the statements obtained from the officials were not video-recorded.
The witness also maintained that the contracts for the construction of the terminal building and the expansion of the apron at Katsina airport constituted a single contract, despite being shown documents before the court.
He nevertheless confirmed that the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) had granted approval for the contracts.
Odofin further told the court that the Federal Ministry of Aviation had no institutional affiliation with Fatima Hadi Sirika and Hamman Jalal Sule, the second and third defendants.
He explained 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 Ministry of Aviation.
The witness also confirmed that although Al Buraq Global Investment Limited had other shareholders and directors apart from Fatima and Sule, none of the other individuals was standing trial in the case.
Justice Oriji adjourned the matter until November 18 for continuation of the cross-examination of the witness.
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