An investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has told a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja that former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika did not sign the documents used to award a disputed ₦599 million consultancy contract.
The disclosure came on Thursday, October 15, 2026, during the ongoing trial of Sirika and three other defendants over alleged irregularities in aviation contracts valued at approximately ₦2.8 billion.
The prosecution witness, Christopher Odofin, made the admission while being cross-examined by Sirika’s lawyer, Kanu Agabi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Odofin acknowledged that the documents presented in court did not directly identify Sirika as the official responsible for issuing the contract award letter.
He also confirmed that the former minister was not a member of the Ministerial Tenders Board responsible for the procurement exercise.
EFCC Witness Explains Why Sirika Was Charged
Despite acknowledging that Sirika did not sign the award documents, Odofin maintained that the former minister’s prosecution was based on his alleged role in approving the consultancy arrangement.
According to the investigator, Sirika allegedly authorised the contract beyond the financial approval limit applicable to his office.
The prosecution also maintains that the contract benefited a business associate of the former minister.
The witness’s testimony highlighted a central issue in the trial: whether Sirika improperly influenced the procurement process despite not personally signing the relevant documents.
His admission did not amount to the withdrawal of the charges or a judicial finding that Sirika had committed no offence.
Questions Raised Over Phone Recording Used in Investigation
During cross-examination, Agabi also questioned the investigator about an audio recording obtained from a mobile telephone linked to Abel Enitan, a former Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Aviation.
Odofin acknowledged that the telephone from which the recording was reportedly extracted had not been produced before the court.
Questions were also raised about the handling of electronic evidence and the preparation of the forensic report used during the investigation.
The witness explained that the digital forensic report was prepared by another investigator, Bello Gideon, rather than by him personally.
The admissibility, reliability and evidential weight of the disputed materials remain matters for the court to assess.
Witness Clarifies Role of Sirika’s Daughter
The proceedings also examined the involvement of Sirika’s daughter, Fatima, who is standing trial alongside her father.
Responding to questions from counsel representing the second defendant, Odofin confirmed that Fatima was not the Chief Executive Officer of Al Buraq Global Investment Limited.
The company is among the defendants accused of benefiting from aviation contracts allegedly influenced by the former minister.
The investigator further acknowledged that he had not personally obtained statements from officials of the Nigerian Air Force, airport authorities or the Katsina State Government concerning the Katsina Airport apron expansion project.
He identified Enitan as the ministry’s Permanent Secretary and Chairman of the Ministerial Tenders Board when the disputed apron expansion contract was awarded.
How the Alleged ₦2.8bn Aviation Contract Fraud Began
The EFCC brought the case against Sirika, his daughter Fatima, his son-in-law Hamma Jalal Sule, and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited in 2024.
The anti-corruption agency alleges that Sirika used his position as Minister of Aviation to secure improper benefits for businesses connected to his associates and family members.
One of the transactions under examination involves a ₦1.498 billion contract for the expansion of the apron at Katsina Airport.
Another part of the prosecution’s case concerns consultancy services linked to the proposed Nigeria Air national carrier.
The EFCC alleges that the disputed contracts involved breaches of procurement procedures and improper use of public office.
The charges include alleged violations of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, the EFCC Establishment Act and the Penal Code applicable in the Federal Capital Territory.
Sirika and the other defendants have pleaded not guilty.
Previous Testimony Raised Questions About Contract Approval
The latest evidence follows earlier hearings in which the prosecution accused Sirika of interfering in the award of consultancy contracts connected to Nigeria Air.
During proceedings in June 2026, Odofin alleged that contracts awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited were processed without full compliance with procurement requirements.
He told the court that an initial consultancy arrangement was subsequently extended, raising questions about the approval process and the financial authority exercised by ministry officials.
In July, the court also examined an audio recording which the EFCC alleged contained instructions relevant to the disputed contract.
The defence has continued challenging the prosecution’s interpretation of the documentary and electronic evidence.
Court Fixes October 20 for Continued Hearing
Following Thursday’s testimony, Justice Sylvanus Oriji adjourned the trial until October 20, 2026, for further cross-examination of the prosecution witness.
The court is expected to continue examining the procurement records, witness testimony and evidence concerning the alleged influence of the former minister.
The central question remains whether the EFCC can establish that Sirika improperly used his office to influence the contracts, regardless of whose signatures appeared on the award documents.
No conviction or acquittal was announced at the October 15 hearing.
