Ex-Aviation Tenders Board chairman, secretary not on trial over N1.4bn contract – EFCC witness
Witness Testifies in EFCC Case Against Former Aviation Minister
A witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Christopher Odofin, testified Tuesday at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court that Abel Enitan, the former Chairman of the Tenders Board of the Federal Ministry of Aviation, has not been prosecuted by the anti-graft agency. Enitan was Permanent Secretary of the ministry when the contract for the expansion of the Katsina Airport Apron Extension was awarded to Al-Buraq Global Investment Ltd by the Federal Government.
Odofin’s statements came during the ongoing trial of Hadi Sirika, a former Minister of Aviation, who is facing allegations of abuse of office in relation to the contract’s award. During cross-examination by Efut Okoi, attorney for the second defendant, Fatima Hadi Sirika, Odofin also confirmed that Musa Odiniya, the Director of Public Procurement who cleared the contract, has not been indicted either.
Okoi queried whether Enitan or Odiniya were facing any legal proceedings related to the contract in question. The witness responded that neither official has been put on trial.
Additionally, Odofin acknowledged that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) operates as a commercial entity and has not filed any petitions against any of the defendants in this case. He stated that the EFCC’s documents presented to the court did not indicate an indictment of the former minister based solely on the contract papers. Instead, Sirika is being prosecuted for alleged abuse of office stemming from the investigation’s findings.
Further inquiries from another attorney, P.A. Adewuyi, also revealed that the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has not lodged any petitions regarding the contract award.
When informed during the proceedings that the disputed contract had been re-awarded to Al-Buraq Global Investment Ltd on March 17, 2025, the witness indicated he was unaware of this development.
Sirika is charged alongside his daughter, Fatima Hadi Sirika, son-in-law Hamma Jalal Sule, and Al-Buraq Global Investment Limited. They are facing a six-count charge before Justice Sylvanus Oriji, related to abuse of office and contract fraud, for allegedly conferring unfair advantage upon Al-Buraq Global Investment Ltd in connection with the contract valued at N1,498,300,750.
Justice Sylvanus Oriji has scheduled October 28, 2026, for the cross-examination of the witness by Al-Buraq Global Investment Ltd.
