EFCC witness claims Sirika violated procurement rules in Nigeria Air contracts

A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Aviation Minister Hadi Abubakar Sirika has told the Federal Capital Territory High Court that the former minister violated due process in awarding consultancy contracts linked to the Nigeria Air project.

The witness, Christopher Odofin, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), made the disclosure on Wednesday while testifying before Justice S.C. Oriji in Abuja.

Sirika is on trial alongside his daughter Fatima Hadi Sirika, son‑in‑law Hamma Jalal Sule, and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited on amended six‑count charges that allege abuse of office and the misappropriation of more than N2 billion in public funds.

Odofin, who appeared as the 12th prosecution witness, told the court that Sirika awarded a N299 million consultancy contract to Tianaero Nigeria Limited for services related to Nigeria Air and later approved an additional N599 million contract extension for the same company without following established procurement procedures.

According to the witness, the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development wrote to the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) on 7 March 2022, seeking a Certificate of No Objection for the engagement of consultants. However, he said the ministry awarded the contract to Tianaero on 4 April 2022, before receiving the BPP’s response.

“Before the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development received a response from BPP, the contract award letter had already gone out to Tianaero Limited,” Odofin told the court.

He further alleged that the BPP was not informed at all about the subsequent N599 million contract extension awarded to the company.

The witness also testified that Tianaero Nigeria Limited, owned by German national Gabriel Tilmann, a man he described as a close associate of Sirika, received full payment for both contracts.

Odofin said the initial N299 million contract was paid in four tranches between May and July 2022 through the company’s Access Bank account, while the N599 million contract extension was settled in two instalments between October and December 2022 through its Guaranty Trust Bank account.

Despite the payments, the witness argued that there was little evidence of tangible outcomes from the Nigeria Air project.

He also informed the court that Tianaero Nigeria Limited had been registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission on 29 March 2021, barely a year before it was awarded the contracts.

“My lord, it is important to also state that Tianaero Nigeria Limited was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission on the 29th March 2021, barely one year before these contracts were awarded to the company,” he said.

Proceedings were briefly delayed when prosecutors attempted to play a compact disc said to contain a verbal instruction allegedly issued by Sirika directing the ministry’s permanent secretary to ensure the contracts were awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited. The recording could not be played due to technical difficulties and was deferred to the next hearing date.

Justice Oriji subsequently adjourned the case until 8 and 9 July 2026 for continuation of the trial.