.N2.7b fraud: First witness testifies in Sirika’s trial
The High Court sitting at Audu Bako Secretariat, Kano State, has granted an order restraining the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from arresting or inviting the presidential candidate of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2023 general elections, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and seven others.
In a related development, EFCC has presented its first witness in the N2.7 billion contract fraud trial of former minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika; his daughter, Fatima; son-in-law, Jalal Hamma and their company, Al-Buraq Investment Limited.
he applicants are NNPP, Dr Ajuji Ahmed, Dipo Olayanku, Ahmed Balewa, Clement Anele, Folshade Aliu, Buba Galadima and Kwankwaso, while the respondent is EFCC.
Justice Yusuf Muhammad granted the order upon reading the motion ex parte dated June 5, 2024.
“An interim injunction is hereby granted, restraining the respondent, either by itself, its agents, representatives, cronies or whosoever acting on its behalf from arresting, detaining, harassing, intimidating, inviting or in any way infringing on the fundamental rights of the applicants, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
“It further ordered that the interim order, the motion on notice and other processes in this suit shall be served on the respondent timeously and before the adjourned date,” the judge held.
The case is adjourned till June 24, 2024, for hearing.
LED in evidence, yesterday, by the EFCC lead counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, the subpoenaed witness, a former Director of Procurement, Federal Ministry of Aviation, Azubuike Okorie, informed Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court that the N1.4 billion Apron Extension contract at Katsina Airport was not executed as of the time he left civil service on May 23, 2023.
The witness also said while serving as aide to the minister, projects between 2022 and 2023, and Chairman, Project Implementation Committee at the time, they were responsible for monitoring and evaluating projects to ensure their execution.
According to him, Al-Buraq was one of the awardees for the project at Katsina Airport, adding that when his committee visited the state for project monitoring and implementation, Al-Buraq contractors and others were not on the ground.
The witness, however, informed the court that his committee interacted with the Commissioner, Lands, Katsina State, who had informed them that “because of the conflict between the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), they were not able to secure the land; hence, the contractors could not go to the site.
He further testified that he was only aware of the 30 per cent mobilisation fee paid to the embattled company and could not confirm if 100 per cent payment was made to Al-Buraq.
The defence counsel led by Kanu Agabi (SAN) asked the court for an adjournment for cross-examination because they needed time to study the documents EFCC relied on during the witness’ testimony.
The court adjourned till Tuesday, June 11, 2024, for the continuation of trial.
