Alleged Fraud: Court Hears Voice Recording in Hadi Sirika’s Trial
Alleged Fraud: Court Hears Voice Recording in Hadi Sirika's Trial
Alleged Fraud: Court Hears Voice Recording in Hadi Sirika’s Trial
The trial of former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, took a new turn on Wednesday as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja played an audio recording allegedly capturing a conversation between the former minister and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Aviation, Enitan Abel.
Justice S.C. Oriji admitted the recording during the proceedings as the prosecution continued presenting its case against the former minister and his co-defendants.
An investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Assistant Commander of the EFCC (ACE II) Christopher Odofin, who testified as the prosecution’s 12th witness, identified the voice in the recording as that of Sirika while under cross-examination by defence counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN).
Odofin told the court that the audio was a voice note allegedly sent by Sirika from Spain to the Permanent Secretary, discussing a consultancy arrangement involving Prof. Gabriel Tilman, whom the witness described as the alter ego of Tinaero Nigeria Limited.
According to the witness, Sirika was heard in the recording saying he would assign someone identified as Yasir, whom the EFCC investigator described as the former minister’s cousin, to guide Tilman on consultancy procedures in Nigeria.
The witness further alleged that Sirika described Tilman as a close friend and referred to him as someone who was “comfortable” with the ministry, while also acknowledging that some officials were not favourably disposed towards him.
Odofin also informed the court that Tinaero Nigeria Limited was incorporated barely a year before it secured two contracts, a development the prosecution considers significant to its case.
During the proceedings, the court admitted into evidence an order freezing the bank accounts of the third defendant, Hamma Jalal Sule, and the fourth defendant, Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, both maintained with Zenith Bank.
Sirika is standing trial 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.
Under cross-examination by counsel to the first defendant, Kanu Agabi (SAN), the EFCC witness confirmed that Exhibit 9 was a letter from the Ministry of Aviation to the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) requesting a no-objection certificate to adopt selective tendering for critical capital projects. He noted that the document was signed by the Permanent Secretary, Enitan Abel.
He also identified Exhibit 11 as the BPP’s response approving the ministry’s request to adopt selective tendering for the projects.
The witness, however, acknowledged that neither Exhibit 9 nor Exhibit 11 made any reference to Hadi Sirika.
The case was subsequently adjourned for the continuation of trial.
Alleged Fraud: Court Hears Voice Recording in Hadi Sirika’s Trial
