Defence Challenges EFCC Witness on N1.5bn Airport Deal in Sirika's Case

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) presented evidence about corruption in former Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika’s N1.5 billion airport contract. This evidence came under fire from the defence on Wednesday.

Christopher Odofin, an EFCC investigator, was the 16th prosecution witness. He faced many questions from the defence lawyer for Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, a co-defendant linked to the contract.

Al Buraq is connected to Mr Sirika’s daughter, Fatima Sirika, and her husband, Jalal Hamma. The EFCC accused them of benefiting from the contract awarded while Mr Sirika was minister.

The EFCC is prosecuting Mr Sirika, Fatima, Mr Hamma, and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited on several charges at the FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja.

The six counts include claims that Mr Sirika misused his position as aviation minister from 2015 to 2023. He allegedly gave an unfair advantage through the N1.5 billion contract to Al Buraq Global Investment Limited.

The EFCC claims the N1.5 billion contract was for the extension of the apron at Katsina airport. Al Buraq is the fourth defendant in this trial.

The EFCC also said Fatima and her husband had indirect interests in the contract. They claimed that N1.3 billion was traced to Mr Sirika as money from corrupt activities.

All defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges. These also include allegations of corruption tied to another contract linked to the failed Air Nigeria.

Al Buraq’s lawyer, M.J. Numa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), worked to weaken the EFCC's case during Mr Odofin's cross-examination.

Mr Numa questioned how thorough the EFCC's investigation was, based on Mr Odofin's testimony. Mr Odofin has been a key witness since June 30, 2025.

Under cross-examination, Mr Odofin admitted he was unaware of a disagreement involving the Nigerian Air Force, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, and the Katsina State Government about the contract's location.

He did not take statements from officers of the Nigerian Air Force, FAAN, and the Katsina State Government about this disagreement. He also said he did not know that the issue stopped Al Buraq from starting the project.

When asked if the EFCC knew about the dispute before taking the defendants to court, Mr Odofin said he did not know. He also did not know if the EFCC received documents about the dispute.

Mr Odofin said, "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 the site. I don’t know if the contract was re-awarded to Al Buraq and it was asked to move to the site."

Mr Odofin maintained that the contracts for the terminal building and the apron expansion at Katsina airport were one. He said about 17 months ago that the former minister split the contracts to favour his relatives.

On Wednesday, he confirmed that the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) approved the contracts. When asked if he knew that Al Buraq had other directors besides the couple, Mr Odofin said yes and pointed out that none of the other directors faced charges.

The trial judge, Slyvanus Oriji, then adjourned the trial until November 19.

In July 2025, Mr Odofin told the court that Al Buraq received full payment for the contract. Musa Odiniyan, a retired director in the Procurement Department, Ministry of Aviation, said contract payments during Mr Sirika’s time were fast-tracked to finish before President Muhammadu Buhari's term ended.

Earlier this month, Mr Odofin said no land was set aside for the apron expansion at Katsina Airport. He also stated that no contract existed for that expansion for Al Buraq.

In past sessions, defence lawyers for Fatima Sirika and her husband confronted Mr Odofin to prove that the couple had clean records at work despite the charges.

Fatima works at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, while Mr Hamma works at the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). During cross-examination, Mr Odofin said he was not aware of any complaints against them at their jobs.

The defence teams aimed to show that the couple had clean records at work and were not linked to the Ministry of Aviation, which is central to the contract charges.