By EDITH NWAPI

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday in a Federal Capital Territory (FCT), High Court, Maitama, opened its case of alleged N2.6 billion fraud against former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, and three others.

The EFCC dragged Sirika alongside his daughter, Fatima; Jalal Sule Hamma and Al-Duraq Investment Limited, for abuse of office and contract fraud.

They are standing trial before Justice Sylvanus Oriji on a six counts.

At the hearing, Azubuike Okorie, a subpoenaed witness of the EFCC testified as the first witness, (PW1)

He said he was a retired staff of the Federal Ministry of Aviation, director, Procurement and Special Assistant to the Honorable Minister, Projects (2022-2023) and Chairman, Project Implementation Committee.

When led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN the witness said as Special Assistant, he was responsible for monitoring and evaluating projects.

“The Project Implementation Committee ensures the execution of projects.”

When asked about what he knew about the contract to Al-Duraq Global Investment by Federal Ministry he said.

“I was not involved in contracts and my committee is also not involved in awarding contracts.”

When asked to tell the court how he got exhibit tagged “List, 2021 Projects” he said:

“These documents were the ones the then Minister asked me to send to the Permanent Secretary and I did that by making photocopies.

“Let me answer it this way, these documents were given to me, I was not there when he wrote on it but I will assume, it is the minister(Sirika) that wrote in red pen because only ministers write in red pen.”

He said he saw N800 million against Al-Duraq Global Investment Limited and Apron Expansion and aware the contract was given to the above company.

He added that before a contract is awarded, the users agency, in this case, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), would have secured the land.

“Well, the team of the Project Implementation Committee came in contact with Al-Duraq in Kastina when we went for project monitoring and implementation at Kastina airport.

“When we got there, because we had a list of other contractors who were supposed to be on ground including Al-Duraq, we did not find any of them on site then.”

The witness further said that as of the time he left civil service in May 23, 2023 to the best of his knowledge, the contract was not executed.

When asked if he was aware that 100 per cent payment was made to the fourth defendant before he left office?

He told the court that he is only aware of the 30 per cent mobilisation fee paid to them.

He added that as Chairman, Project Implementation Committee, he was not involved in payments.

“As a former director, what I know is that payments were made in stages,” he said.

Jacobs told the court that, that was all for the witness.

Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN counsel for Sirika (1^st defendant) told the court that he was just served with the papers today and needed time to go through it.

“I beg let’s come back tomorrow.”

Mahmoud Magaji, SAN for Fatima (2^nd defendant) Michael Numa, SAN for Al-Duraq Investment allied with him.

The prosecution counsel, Jacobs did not object to their prayer.

Justice Oriji then adjourned until Tuesday for cross examination and continuation of trial. (NAN)

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