The trial of former Nigerian Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, and others has been delayed due to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) failure to provide necessary documents. Sirika, along with his brother, Ahmad Abubakar, and two companies, Al-Buraq Limited and Enginos Nigeria Limited, face 10 counts of abuse of office, criminal breach of trust, and use of position for gratification.
The EFCC alleges that Sirika awarded contracts to his brother’s company, Enginos Nigeria Limited, worth approximately N19.4 billion. Specifically, the commission claims that Sirika used his position to influence the award of a contract for the construction of a terminal building at Katsina Airport, valued at N1,345,586,500. Another contract for the establishment of a Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre at Katsina Airport, worth N3,811,497,685, was also allegedly awarded unfairly.
The defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges, which contravene various sections of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004. The trial was scheduled to continue with the cross-examination of the EFCC’s witness, Ganiyu Yesufu, the Director of Compliance at the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP). However, the defence counsel, Michael Numa, requested essential documents, including contract documents and approval letters, which the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, failed to produce.
Despite Jacobs’ suggestion to proceed without the documents, Numa insisted that he could not continue the cross-examination without them. The court ultimately adjourned the trial until March 25, granting the prosecution time to obtain the necessary documents. The judge, Justice Belgore, emphasized the importance of making the documents available to the defence to facilitate the continuation of the trial.
The delay in the trial highlights the challenges faced by the EFCC in prosecuting high-profile corruption cases. The commission’s inability to provide critical documents may undermine its case against Sirika and the other defendants. As the trial resumes, the prosecution will need to ensure that all necessary evidence is available to demonstrate the alleged wrongdoing and prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. The outcome of the case will be closely watched, given its implications for anti-corruption efforts in Nigeria.
