Defence counsel on Tuesday subjected the third prosecution witness, Engineer Isaiah Ganiyu Yesufu, to over an hour of cross-examination in the alleged N19.4 billion Katsina Airport contract fraud case involving former Aviation Minister, Senator Hadi Abubakar Sirika.
The witness, who is the Director of Certification, Compliance and Monitoring at the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), answered a series of questions from Joseph Kwahar, who held the brief of lead defence counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN).
The cross-examination took place before Justice Suleiman Belgore of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Garki Division, Abuja.
At the end of the proceedings, the judge adjourned the case to December 8 and 9, 2026, for the re-examination of the witness.
Earlier, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), informed the court that a new witness would be introduced at the next adjourned sitting.
The proceedings followed an earlier request by the prosecution to vacate a previously scheduled date for the continuation of the cross-examination. The defence did not oppose the request, and the court subsequently fixed Tuesday for the proceedings.
During an earlier session, Yesufu told the court that Sirika neither issued nor signed any of the letters awarding contracts for the construction of a terminal building at the Katsina Airport.
He also testified that the former minister did not participate in the Aviation Ministry’s ministerial tenders board proceedings that led to the award of the contracts.
“I am aware that the first defendant (former minister) is on trial for violation of procurement processes. As far as I know, he did not participate in the ministerial tenders board’s proceedings.
“He did not issue or sign any of the letters awarding the contracts,” he said.
Yesufu further told the court that procurements in the Ministry of Aviation were governed by the Public Procurement Act, under which the ministry’s permanent secretary served as the accounting officer.
According to him, the permanent secretary at the time, Mr. Abel Enitan, was responsible for ensuring compliance with the Act and bore responsibility for liabilities arising from its breach.
Sirika is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside his younger brother, Ahmad Abubakar Sirika, and two companies, Al-Buraq Limited and Enginos Nigeria Limited.
The defendants are facing a 10-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office, criminal breach of trust and using public office for gratification.They have all pleaded not guilty.
The EFCC alleged that the former minister used his position to influence the award of contracts worth about N19.4 billion to his younger brother.
One of the allegations concerns a contract worth N1,345,586,500 for the construction of a terminal building at Katsina Airport, which the commission claims was awarded to Enginos Nigeria Limited through the former minister’s alleged influence.
The prosecution also alleges that Sirika influenced the award of a N3,811,497,685 contract for the establishment of a Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre at the airport.
The alleged offences were said to have been committed in Abuja between August 2022 and May 2023 and are brought under relevant provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004, and the Penal Code applicable to the FCT.
The defendants deny the allegations, and the charges remain before the court.
