The trial of former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, over an alleged N2.7 billion fraud took a fresh turn on Wednesday as an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness identified the former minister’s voice in an audio recording played before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja.
The recording, which was admitted and played in open court before Justice S.C. Oriji, allegedly captured a conversation between Sirika and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Aviation, Enitan Abel, regarding a consultancy arrangement involving a private firm.
Testifying as the 12th prosecution witness (PW12), Assistant Commander of the EFCC, Christopher Odofin, told the court that the voice in the recording belonged to Sirika, who is standing trial alongside three other defendants over alleged procurement and contract fraud.
Led in evidence by defence counsel Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), the witness stated that the audio consisted of a voice note allegedly sent by Sirika from Spain to the ministry’s permanent secretary.
According to Odofin, the voice note referenced Prof. Gabriel Tilman, whom he described as the alter ego of Tinaero Nigeria Limited, a company linked to some of the transactions under investigation.
The witness told the court that Sirika was heard explaining that he would attach an individual to Tilman to guide him on consultancy procedures in Nigeria.
Odofin identified the individual as Yasir, whom he described as a cousin of the former minister.
“The voice note captured the first defendant saying he would assign someone to assist Prof. Tilman on how consultancy work is done in Nigeria,” the witness told the court.
The EFCC investigator further testified that Sirika described Tilman as a close friend who was familiar with activities within the ministry, adding that the former minister acknowledged that some ministry officials were uncomfortable with him.
According to the witness, Sirika’s remarks in the recording suggested that Tilman was not particularly popular among some officials due to his manner of engagement with the ministry.
Odofin also told the court that Tinaero Nigeria Limited was incorporated only about a year before it was awarded two government contracts, a development the prosecution considers significant in establishing its case.
Meanwhile, the court admitted additional documentary evidence, including an order freezing bank accounts belonging to the third defendant, Hamma Jalal Sule, and the fourth defendant, Al Buraq Investment Global Limited, both maintained with Zenith Bank.
Sirika is being prosecuted alongside his daughter, Fatima Hadi Sirika, his son-in-law, Hamma Jalal Sule, and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, a company allegedly linked to his daughter.
During cross-examination by Sirika’s counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN), the witness confirmed that Exhibit 9, previously admitted by the court, was a letter from the Ministry of Aviation to the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) requesting a no-objection certificate to adopt the selective tendering method for critical capital projects.
Odofin acknowledged that the document was signed by the then Permanent Secretary, Enitan Abel.
He also identified Exhibit 11 as the BPP’s response approving the ministry’s request for selective tendering.
However, under questioning, the witness admitted that neither of the two documents specifically mentioned Sirika.
The former minister and his co-defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them by the EFCC, which alleges abuse of office, procurement violations and diversion of public funds linked to contracts awarded during Sirika’s tenure as aviation minister.
The case was subsequently adjourned for continuation of trial.
