An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission witness has told the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja that former Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, allegedly imposed his German associate, Gabriel Tilmann, on the Ministry of Aviation for a consultancy contract connected with the botched Nigeria Air project.
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Christopher Odofin, an EFCC investigator and the 12th prosecution witness in the case, maintained the allegation on Wednesday while being cross-examined before Justice Sylvanus Oriji at the Maitama Division of the court.
Sirika is standing trial alongside his daughter, Fatima; his son-in-law, Hamma Jalal Sule; and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, a company allegedly linked to the couple, on a six-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office and contract fraud.
The EFCC alleges, among other things, that Sirika used his position as minister to confer an unfair advantage on Al Buraq Global Investment Limited in relation to a contract for the extension of the apron at Katsina Airport valued at about ₦1.498 billion.
The defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the allegations remain subject to determination by the court.
Odofin had earlier testified that the Ministry of Aviation awarded consultancy services connected with the Nigeria Air project to Tianaero Nigeria Limited, a company associated with Tilmann.
According to the witness, Tianaero was initially awarded a consultancy contract worth more than ₦299 million on April 4, 2022, before the engagement was extended on October 17, 2022, bringing that phase of the contract to more than ₦599 million.
The witness alleged that the extension was granted on Sirika’s instructions because of his relationship with Tilmann.
The prosecution has also relied on a voice note allegedly sent by Sirika to the then Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, Enitan Abel. The recording was tendered through Odofin, admitted in evidence and subsequently played in court.
In the recording attributed to Sirika, the speaker was heard directing that the necessary contract be generated for Tilmann’s company so that he could be paid for his services.
“Do the right thing. Generate the necessary contract and give his company. In that way, we can be paying for his services,” the voice attributed to the former minister said.
During cross-examination by Sirika’s counsel, Kanu Agabi, SAN, Odofin maintained that the voice in the recording was that of the former minister and that he was addressing the then Permanent Secretary.
The witness also confirmed that Sirika had described Tilmann as “energetic and resourceful” and as a trained captain and experienced aviation manager who had participated in the establishment of airlines in different parts of the world.
Odofin, however, questioned the circumstances surrounding the award, telling the court that Tianaero Nigeria Limited had been registered barely a year before it received the consultancy contract.
When the defence questioned whether Tilmann’s described expertise made him suitable for the assignment, Odofin maintained his position.
“The man was imposed by the first defendant on the ministry,” the witness told the court.
He further testified that investigators were unable to question Tilmann because he was outside Nigeria at the time of the investigation, adding that attempts to reach him were unsuccessful.
The witness also maintained that due process was not followed before the consultancy contract was awarded, although the defence has continued to challenge aspects of the prosecution’s account.
The Nigeria Air consultancy forms part of the wider prosecution of Sirika and his co-defendants over contracts and transactions undertaken during his tenure as Minister of Aviation.
The EFCC alleges that some of the transactions amounted to abuse of office and the conferring of unfair advantage, while Sirika and the other defendants have denied wrongdoing.
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