The trial of former Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister, Hadi Abubakar Sirika, over an alleged N2 billion fraud continued on Wednesday before Justice S.C. Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, with a prosecution witness alleging that due process was violated in the award of consultancy contracts linked to the Nigeria Air project.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Sirika, alongside his daughter, Fatima Hadi Sirika, son-in-law, Hamma Jalal Sule, and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, on amended six-count charges bordering on abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds.
Testifying as the 12th prosecution witness (PW12), EFCC investigator Christopher Odofin told the court that Sirika awarded a N299 million consultancy contract and a subsequent N599 million contract extension to Tianaero Nigeria Limited without complying with established procurement procedures.
According to the witness, the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development had written to the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) on March 7, 2022, requesting a Certificate of No Objection for the engagement of consultants. However, the ministry awarded the consultancy contract to Tianaero Nigeria Limited on April 4, 2022, before receiving the BPP’s response, which was dated April 6 and officially received by the ministry on April 7, 2022.
Odofin further alleged that the BPP was not informed at all about the subsequent contract extension awarded to the same company.
The witness also told the court that Tianaero Nigeria Limited, owned by German national Gabriel Tilmann, who he described as a close associate of the former minister, received full payment for both contracts despite the absence of any tangible outcome from the Nigeria Air project.
He stated that the N299 million consultancy contract was paid in four tranches between May and July 2022 into the company’s Access Bank account, while the N599 million contract extension was settled in two instalments between October and December 2022 through its Guaranty Trust Bank account.
Odofin disclosed that Tianaero Nigeria Limited was incorporated with the Corporate Affairs Commission on March 29, 2021, barely a year before it was awarded the contracts connected to the proposed national carrier.
Proceedings were briefly interrupted when the prosecution attempted to play a compact disc said to contain a recorded verbal directive from Sirika instructing the ministry’s permanent secretary to ensure the contracts were awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited. The playback was deferred due to technical difficulties.
Justice Oriji subsequently adjourned the case until July 8 and 9, 2026, for continuation of trial.
