By Tony Okorie,Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Investigator, Mr Christopher Odofin, has told the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) that he was not aware of a dispute between the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, over the site of a contract awarded to Al Buraq Global Investment Limited at the Katsina airport.

Odofin, the 12th prosecution witness, PW12, in the ongoing trial of former Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, and three others, who stated this on Wednesday while being cross-examined by counsel for Al Buraq, Michael Numa, SAN, said there was no land allocated for the expansion of an apron at the airport.

Sirika is being prosecuted by the EFCC on behalf of the Federal Government, before Justice Sylvanus Oriji, sitting at Maitama, Abuja, alongside his daughter, Fatima and son-in-law, Hamman Jalal Sule, and a company purportedly owned by the couple, Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, on a six-count charge bordering on abuse of office and contract fraud to the tune of N2.8 billion.

The former minister was alleged to have abused his office as a minister to confer unfair advantage on Al Buraq Global Investment Limited by using his position to influence award of contract for the apron extension for the sum of N1,498,300,750, among other alleged offences.

According to the EFCC, the alleged offences were contrary to the provisions of Sections 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and Section 17(b) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004, as well as Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Acts of the FCT and punishable under the same sections.

However, Sirika and his co-defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them by the EFCC.

At the resumed trial in the case, the PW12 confirmed to the court that investigations into the alleged offence were thoroughly conducted, adding that relevant documents were gathered and formed part of the proof of evidence in the trial.

“To the best of my ability, the investigation was thorough. Also, to the best of my ability, all relevant documents were gathered. All materials submitted to me are in the proof of evidence,” Odofin told the court.

Asked if he interviewed officials of Katsina State Ministry of Lands in the course of the investigation, the witness answered in the negative, insisting that there was no land for the execution of the project.

He, however, told the court that he would be surprised that the Katsina Ministry of Lands provided land for the execution of the contract and communicated the same to EFCC.

The witness further told the court that no NAF personnel and FAAN personnel were interviewed while EFCC was investigating the alleged offence, adding that he did not know if the land in question was also being used by the NAF.

According to him, “We never interviewed personnel of Katsina State Ministry of Lands. We also did not interview personnel of the Air Force and FAAN.

“I do not know if the land is being used by the Air Force. I am not aware that the Air Force sent a document on that to EFCC.”

Asked if he knows there is a dispute between NAF and FAAN which prevented Al Buraq from mobilising to site, Odofin told the court he did not know.

He added that he was not aware that the dispute had been resolved and that the contract was re-awarded to Al Buraq and the company had been directed to move to site to execute the project.

“I am not aware of a dispute between Air Force and FAAN over the land. I also do not know that the dispute prevented Al Buraq from moving to site. Also, I don’t know if the contract was re-awarded to Al Buraq and the company was asked to move to site,” the PW told the court.

While he alleged that the former minister influenced the award of the contract, the PW12 informed the court that the then Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Aviation, Mr Abel Enitan; Director of Procurement of the ministry, Musa Odiniya; and Azubuike Okorie, who testified as first prosecution witness, PW1, were interviewed in the course of investigation, though there was no video recording of the taking of their statements.

Despite being shown documents before the court, the witness insisted that the contracts for terminal building and expansion of the apron at the Katsina airport were one, but confirmed that the Bureau for Public Procurement gave approval for the contracts.

He then informed the court that the Ministry of Aviation had no affiliations with both the second and third defendants in the case, Fatima Hadi Sirika and Hamman Jalal Sule.

He further told the court that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, the couple respectively worked for, did not have any authority over the Aviation Ministry.

He confirmed to the court that though Al Buraq had other shareholders and directors, apart from the second and third defendants, none of them was being prosecuted in court.

Justice Oriji later adjourned the case to November 18 for continuation of the cross-examination of PW12.

By Uthman Baba-Naseer,Minna

A Survivor of the death, in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp,(NSCDC) in Niger State Command, Abdulsalam Yakubu,has told the Justice Mohammed Mohammed Judicial Commission of Inquiry that the operatives of the NSCDC stole his two bottles of already mined gold and cash amount of one million,three fifty thousand naira. (N1.350m).

He further told the Commission that the money was kept in his bag during his arrest from a mining site in the Lokoto area of Bosso Local Government and his working tools and other valuables while in custody.

Testifying before the Commission in Minna Wednesday, Abdulsalam Yakubu stated that he is among the internal displaced Person (IDP) to Minna from Allawa in Shiroro Local Government as a result of incessant armed banditry activities in the community.

He said he came into mining activity to earn his livelihood and he was making enough money to take care of aged parents who are now in (IDP) camp.

Stating that even with the arrest and the death of the miners in custody he will not be deterred from going in to the mining site to make his earning.

“ We are still going into the mining site because we don’t have any other means of livelihood. We came into mining because we have been displaced from our community in Allawa by armed bandits” he told the Commission.

The survivor revealed that the numbers of death recorded in the NSCDC custody were 48 not the 37 as widely reported, insisting that he was even surprised to hear that 37 death were recorded.

“ I’m aware that we lost 48 persons in custody, not 37 as reported. I’m even surprised to hear that 37 people died in custody. The number of persons that died in custody are 48 not 37” he explained.

Also testifying, is Dauda Shehu,told the Commission that the financial support from well-meaning individuals were diverted by the members of the Niger State chapter of the Nigeria Mining Association

According to Dauda Shehu,among the persons that donated to the parents of the victims and the survivors, included the governorship Candidate of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in Niger State,Alhaji Mohammed Mamman Nami,and his wife Hajiya Zainab Nami.

He told the Commission that Mamman Nami gave each parents and the survivors the sums five hundred thousand,while his wife gave cash donation of ten million naira through the executive of the mining association,but three hundred thousand were given against the five hundred thousand naira while fifty thousand naira were given from the ten million naira from Nami’s wife.

He further alleged the operatives of the Niger State Command of the Mining Marshal under the head of the Marshal one Jibril Sani took some substantial amount of money from his bag and his working tools and already mined gold while in detention.

When he demanded the refund of his interns collected from him and his money,the head of the mining Marshal only told him that he should thank him for his release on bail.

By George Mgbeleke

The Senate on Wednesday called for urgent deployment of security personnel to Taraba State after bandits killed about 80 people in Binari community.

The attack occurred in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area, prompting demand for more security camps around Taraba, Plateau and Bauchi borders.

Resolution of the Red Chamber followed a motion by Senator Isa Shuaibu Lau (APC Taraba North), who raised alarm over killings and growing insecurity in his constituency.

Lau said the attack caused deaths, fear and displacement, requiring immediate intervention to stop further loss of lives.

He lamented persistent threats by armed bandits to rural communities, saying government must uphold its constitutional duty to protect lives and property.

The senator warned that inaction could lead to more killings, destruction and worsening humanitarian crisis in affected areas.

Contributing, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno (APC Borno North), said protecting lives and property is government’s primary responsibillity , describing the motion as timely and commended Lau for bringing constituents’ plight to the Senate.

“The primary purpose of governance is to protect the lives and property of the people,” Monguno said.

Following debate, the Senate urged security agencies to deploy personnel and establish camps to boost surveillance along the three-state borders.

It also urged National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and North East Development Commission (NEDC) to urgently deliver relief materials to affected communities.