The 12th prosecution witness, Christopher Odofin, an EFCC investigator, told the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday that the consultancy contract award worth N599 million does not implicate former Aviation Minister [Hadi Abubakar Sirika](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadi_Abubakar_Sirika). The testimony came as the trial continued before Justice Sylvanus Oriji, with Sirika, his daughter Fatima, son‑in‑law Hamma Jalal Sule and their company Al Buraq Global Investment Limited facing six counts of abuse of office and contract fraud totalling N2.8 billion.
**What did the 12th witness testify?**
Odofin, cross‑examined by Sirika’s counsel Kanu Agabi, stated that Sirika was not the signatory on the contract award document presented as an exhibit. He further clarified that Sirika was not a member of the ministry’s ministerial tenders board, which recommends contract winners for the Aviation Ministry’s approval.
**Who signed the contract award document?**
According to the witness, the award and related papers – including the letter of award for the Katsina Airport apron expansion, the summary of the 23rd ministerial board meeting, and the minutes of the tender board – were signed by Musa Odiniya, the ministry’s Director of Procurement, who earlier testified as PW5. Odofin added that a visual inspection of the document revealed no indication that Odiniya should not have signed it.
**What are the charges against Sirika and his co‑defendants?**
The EFCC alleges that Sirika abused his ministerial position to give Al Buraq Global Investment Limited an unfair advantage in securing the N1,498,300,750 contract for extending the apron at [Katsina Airport](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katsina_Airport). The prosecution cites violations of Sections 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, Section 17(b) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act 2004, and Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532 of the FCT.
**What was the court’s next step?**
The hearing was adjourned, with the court scheduling further cross‑examination of the witness for 20 October and a subsequent date on 28 October.
*“Sirika was not the one who signed the contract award document,”* Odofin told the bench, reinforcing the defence’s plea of not guilty.
The trial remains ongoing, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ([EFCC](https://efcc.gov.ng)) leading the prosecution against the former minister and his associates.