Alleged fraud of the contract n19.4 billion: the BPP director testifies against the former aviation minister

Isaiah Yesufu, director of certification, conformity and monitoring at the public procurement office (BPP), testified on Monday against the former aviation minister, Hadi Sirika.

The commission for economic and financial crimes (EFCC) accused Sirika and its brother Ahmad and two companies with abuse of offices and contracts fraud.

The contract was for the construction of the terminal building at Katsina airport.

Yesufu, who is a witness of the accusation, said this in his evidence to the process of the former minister that the BPP was not aware of the division of the contract.

They are pursued on charges of 10 counts before the judge Soleiman Belgore, to the limit of the abuse of charge, the criminal violation of trust and the use of the position for gratification.

The Anti-Innesto Commission said that the former minister has assigned various contracts to his younger brother for the sum of about n19.4 billion.

The EFCC said that Sirika has given an unfair advantage over Enginos Nigeria Limited whose alter ego is his biological brother, Ahmad, using his position to influence the prize of a contract for the construction of a terminal at Katsina airport to consider himself in N1, 345,586,500.

He also said that the former minister used his position to influence the prize for the establishment of the center of maintenance and renewal of the fire trucks at the Katsina airport for the sum of N3, 811,497,685.

Furthermore, among others, he said that Ahmad and Enginos Nigeria Limited had the possession of the aggregate sum of N2.337.840.674.16 who knew indirectly represented the proceeds of the criminal conduct of the former minister.

The defendants, however, declared themselves not guilty of the favorite accusation against them.

Testing, Yesufu told the Court that a bidder for any contract must submit a sworn declaration that states that the company has no relationship with the extent procured.

“If there is a relationship, this is equivalent to a conflict of interest and should be disclosed.

“The officer concerned of the extent he procures or BPP will recuse himself from participating in the trial (of the contract contract),” said Yesufu to the Court.

He said that in the case of the prize of a contract for the construction of a terminal for Katsina airport, the Ministry of Aviation has asked for approval to adopt a limited race method due to time constraints.

He added that the approval was granted in favor of five companies, including Enginos Nigeria Limited.

Yesufu also declared to the Court that after approval, the Ministry completed the supply process and assigned two contracts:

One of the contracts was in favor of Enginos and the second was in favor of Al-Buraq according to him.

“The Bureau was not aware of how a single contract, entitled” the construction of the terminal of Katsina airport and the apron was finally assigned as two separate contracts “.

“I realized the division of the contract when I was invited by EFCC, where I made the declaration,” he said.

The witness reported to the Court that Enginos Nigeria Limited was awarded the contract to build the terminal of the Katsina airport at the cost of N1 345 586 500.

At this point, the accusation consultant, Rotimi Jacobs (San), prayed for an update to allow him to resolve some documents, to which the other parties have not objected.

The Belgore judge subsequently was updated until April 8 to continue the tests of PW3.