A former director in the Ministry of Aviation’s Procurement Department, Musa Odiniyan, testified in the Federal Capital Territory High Court on Monday that Al Buraq Global Investment was not qualified for the contract to repair Katsina Airport, which was awarded under the leadership of ex-Minister Hadi Sirika.
Odiniyan, who is the fifth witness in the ongoing trial of Sirika and three others, including his wife Fatima Hadi Sirika, Jalal Sule Hamma, and Al Buraq Global Investment, revealed that the company failed to meet the necessary qualifications for the contract.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting the group on six amended charges, including allegations of contract fraud totaling over N2.8 billion.
During cross-examination by Michael Numa, SAN, the defense counsel for the fourth defendant, Odiniyan reaffirmed his earlier testimony, stating that had the contract been awarded through an open and competitive bidding process, Al Buraq would likely not have qualified.
He explained that the ministry follows specific criteria for awarding contracts, and Al Buraq did not meet those standards.
Odiniyan also disclosed that the primary motivation behind the contract’s payment was to ensure its completion and commissioning before former President Buhari left office, rather than for any variation of the contract.
He stated that the N800 million allocated for the project was part of a budgetary provision aimed at ensuring its completion.
The witness further testified that two contracts awarded to Al Buraq and another company, Enginos, for the construction of the apron and terminal building at Katsina Airport were originally listed under two separate budget codes but were later grouped under a single code within the Procurement Department.
The court, presided over by Justice S.C. Oriji, adjourned the case until March 10, 2025, for further cross-examination.
