An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness in the alleged fraud against former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika and three others, has insisted that his investigation into the matter was thoroughly conducted.
Christopher Odofin, an investigator, said this on Wednesday during a cross examination at an FCT High Court, Abuja.
Sirika is being prosecuted by the EFCC, alongside his daughter, Fatima and son-in-law, Hamman Jalal Sule and a company purportedly owned by the couple, Al Buraq Global Investment Limited.
They are facing a six-count charge bordering on abuse of office and contract fraud to the tune of N2.8 billion.
The charge, which, they pleaded not guilty.
Odofin, who was being cross examined by the counsel for Al Buraq Company, Michael Numa, SAN, is the 12th Prosecution Witness (PW12) in the ongoing trial.
At the resumed hearing in the trial, the witness confirmed to the court that investigations into the alleged offence were thoroughly conducted.
He added that relevant documents were gathered which formed the proof of evidence in the trial.
“To the best of my ability, the investigation was thorough. Also, to the best of my ability, all relevant documents were gathered.
“All materials submitted to me are in the proof of evidence,” Odofin told the court.
He said he was unaware of a dispute between the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) over the contract site of Katsina Airport.
When asked if he interviewed officials of Katsina State Ministry of Lands in the course of investigation, the witness answered in the negative.
He, however, told the court that he would be surprised to know that the Katsina Ministry of Lands provided land for the execution of the contract and communicated same to EFCC.
The witness further told the court that no NAF personnel and FAAN personnel was interviewed while EFCC was investigating the alleged offence.
“We never interviewed personnel of Katsina State Ministry of Lands. We also did not interview personnel of the Nigeria Air Force and FAAN.
“I do not know if the land is being used by the Air Force. I am not aware that Air Force sent a document on that to EFCC.”
“I am not aware that the dispute had been resolved also and that contract was re-awarded to Al Buraq and the company had been directed to move to site to execute the project,” he said.
The witness informed the court that the then Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Aviation, Mr Abel Enitan and Director of Procurement of the ministry, Musa Odiniya were interviewed.
In addition, Azubuike Okorie, who testified as first prosecution witness (PW1) was also interviewed in the course of investigation.
In spite of being shown documents before the court, the witness insisted that the contracts for the terminal building and expansion of Apron at the Katsina airport were one but confirmed that the Bureau for Public Procurement gave approval for the contracts.
He then informed the court that the Ministry of Aviation had no affiliations with both the second and third defendants in the case, Fatima Hadi Sirika and Hamman Jalal Sule.
He told the court that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NUPRA), which the couple respectively worked in, did not have any authority over the Aviation Ministry.
He confirmed to the court that though, Al Buraq had other shareholders and directors, apart from the second and third defendants, none of such were being prosecuted in court.
Justice Sylvanus Oriji however, adjourned until Nov. 18 for continuation of cross examination of the PW12. (NAN)
