Nigeria: Sirika Trial - EFCC Witness Says Katsina Airport Contracts Were Separate Projects

What the report says

A prosecution witness in the corruption trial of former Nigerian aviation minister Hadi Sirika told the Federal Capital Territory High Court that two contracts at Katsina Airport — one for a terminal building and another for apron expansion — were separate projects. The case, reported by Leadership and distributed by AllAfrica, involves Sirika, his brother Ahmad Abubakar Sirika, and companies named Al-Buraq Limited and Enginos Nigeria Limited.

The witness, Engineer Isaiah Ganiyu Yesufu of the Bureau of Public Procurement, changed his earlier position under cross-examination and said the projects had different budgetary codes and were separately appropriated. He also said the procurement paperwork supported that the terminal and apron works were distinct, rather than one combined contract. The testimony was given before Justice Saiman Belgore in Abuja during a resumed hearing.

According to the report, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission alleges Sirika used his office to secure contracts worth about 19.4 billion naira for associates, including a terminal-building contract valued at 1.35 billion naira and another airport project worth 3.81 billion naira. The defendants have pleaded not guilty. The court adjourned the matter to December 8 and 9 for possible further questioning and continuation of the trial.

The hearing is significant because it touches on whether the airport works were properly separated in the budgeting and award process, a central issue in the fraud allegations.