By By Elizabeth Ugbo
ABUJA, Nigeria – The trial of former Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Hadi Abubakar Sirika, continued on Wednesday before Justice S.C. Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja. An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness alleged that Sirika awarded consultancy contracts worth ₦898 million to Tianaero Nigeria Limited before obtaining mandatory approval from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP). The court also deferred the presentation of an audio compact disc allegedly containing Sirika’s directive after technical issues prevented it from playing.
EFCC Witness Details Contract Payments
The prosecution’s 12th witness, Christopher Odofin, an EFCC investigator, told the court that Sirika approved a ₦299 million consultancy contract and a ₦599 million contract extension for Tianaero Nigeria Limited without following due procurement procedures.
Odofin said the consultancy fee was paid in four instalments between May 1 and July 22, 2022, into the company’s Access Bank account.
He added that the contract extension was paid in two instalments between October and December 2022 into the company’s Guaranty Trust Bank account.
According to the witness, the Federal Government paid both contracts in full despite the Nigeria Air project never becoming operational.
Contracts Awarded Before BPP Approval
Odofin testified that the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development requested a Certificate of No Objection from the Bureau of Public Procurement on March 7, 2022.
However, he said the BPP responded on April 6, 2022, while the ministry received the approval on April 7, 2022.
Despite this, the ministry had already issued the first contract award letter to Tianaero Nigeria Limited on April 4, 2022. The second contract award letter followed on April 6, 2022.
“Before the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development received a response from the BPP, the contract award letter had already been issued to Tianaero Nigeria Limited,” Odofin told the court.
He further alleged that officials never informed the BPP about the second contract award, describing the process as a breach of procurement regulations.
Company Registered One Year Before Contract Award
The EFCC investigator told the court that Tianaero Nigeria Limited was incorporated on March 29, 2021, barely one year before receiving the contracts.
He also identified the company as being owned by German national Gabriel Tilmann, whom he described as a close associate of the former minister.
Court Defers Audio Evidence
Meanwhile, prosecutors attempted to play a compact disc allegedly containing a verbal directive from Sirika instructing the ministry’s permanent secretary to award the contracts to Tianaero Nigeria Limited.
However, technical difficulties prevented the audio from playing in court.
As a result, Justice Oriji adjourned the trial until July 8 and 9, 2026, for the continuation of proceedings and further presentation of evidence.
Sirika Faces Six-Count Charge
Sirika is standing trial alongside his daughter, Fatima Hadi Sirika, his son-in-law, Hamma Jalal Sule, and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited.
The EFCC filed an amended six-count charge against the defendants, accusing them of abuse of office and the alleged misappropriation of more than ₦2 billion in public funds linked to the Nigeria Air project.
