Judge Sylvanus Oriji of the FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday, listened to a voice note which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) believes to be former Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika’s verbal instructions on a contract award.
Mr Sirika, who faces six charges relating to corruption in a N2.8 billion aviation contract, is believed to be instructing the then-Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, Enitan Abel, in the voice note to award a consultancy contract to his friend.
“Do the right thing. Generate the necessary contract and give it to his company. In that way, we can be paying for his services,” part of the voice note played said of the contract allegedly awarded to Mr Sirika’s friend.
EFCC’s 12th prosecution witness, Christopher Odofin, said in his testimony on Wednesday that the voice belonged to Mr Sirika and was sent to Mr Abel.
Mr Odofin, an EFCC investigator, also said the company referred to by the speaker in the voice note was Tanaero Nigeria Limited (TNL), a firm he said belonged to Gabriel Tilmann, a friend of Mr Sirika.
