Musa Odiniyan, a witness in the trial of the former minister of aviation and aerospace development, Mr Hadi Sirika, told the Federal Capital Territory High Court that Al Buraq Global Investment was not qualified for the contract awarded for the repairs of Katsina Airport when Sirika held sway in the ministry,
Spokesman for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Dele Oyewale said in a statement that Odiniyan who is the fifth prosecution witness in the trial of the former minister made the revelation yesterday under cross- examination.
Recall that the EFCC is prosecuting Sirika and three others – Fatima Hadi Sirika, Jalal Sule Hamma and Al Buraq Global Investment – on six amended charges bordering on contract fraud to the tune of N2, 825,032,220.97.
Oyewale said the witness, during a cross-examination by counsel for the fourth defendant, Michael Numa, reaffirmed his position in his evidence that the company could not have qualified for the bidding process or the contract award if open and competitive bidding was done.
“We use some criteria for determining the award of contracts for companies. I still maintain that if it was an open competitive bidding, the company Al Buraq may not have qualified,” Odiniyan was quoted as saying.
He also disclosed that the reason for which the contract was paid was simply to ensure that it was completed and commissioned by former President Buhari before he left office.
“The reason for that payment was for the project to be implemented and commissioned before the exit of the former president. It was not for variation. The accounting officer sourced money from every relevant route to actualize the project. The N800 million is a budgetary allowance to support the actualisation of the project,” he said.
Oyewale also said Odiniyan further informed the court that two of the ministry’s contracts awarded to Alburak and Enginos on the Apron and Terminal Building of Katsina Airport, respectively, were captured under two different budget codes but appeared in a single code in the Procurement Department.
He said Justice S. C. Oriji adjourned the matter till March 10, 2025, for the continuation of cross-examination.
