The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday told a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja how former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, allegedly used an Ethiopian Airlines aircraft to stage the controversial unveiling of Nigeria Air just days before the end of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The allegation was made by the 12th prosecution witness, Christopher Odofin, an EFCC investigator, during the ongoing trial of Sirika and three others over alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds exceeding N2 billion.
Testifying before Justice S.C. Oriji, the witness said investigations revealed that the aircraft unveiled as Nigeria Air at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on May 27, 2023, was in fact chartered from Ethiopian Airlines and brought into Nigeria solely for a temporary display.
According to him, the aircraft arrived in Abuja three days before the end of the Buhari administration and departed for Addis Ababa on the morning of May 29, 2023, the day a new government was inaugurated.
Reading from a charter agreement obtained during the investigation, Odofin told the court that Ethiopian Airlines agreed to provide the aircraft for a static display of the Nigeria Air livery between May 27 and May 29, 2023.
“The aircraft will stay in Abuja airport for static display of Nigeria Air livery until May 28, 2023. The aircraft will leave Abuja airport early morning on May 29, 2023,” the witness read from the document.
The agreement also provided that the flight would be operated by Ethiopian Airlines crew members dressed in Ethiopian Airlines uniforms, while local models could be dressed in Nigeria Air uniforms for ceremonial photographs during the unveiling.
Odofin said investigators concluded that the arrangement was deliberately designed to coincide with the expiration of Sirika’s tenure as minister and create the impression that the Federal Government had successfully launched the long-awaited national carrier.
He further told the court that immediately after the public display, the Nigeria Air branding was removed from the aircraft before it returned to Ethiopian Airlines.
According to the witness, documents received from Ethiopian Airlines in response to an EFCC request for information confirmed that the arrangement was a short-term charter agreement solely for the display of the Nigeria Air livery.
He noted that although the Nigeria Air project was intended to establish a national carrier, the agreement with Ethiopian Airlines was signed on May 24, 2023, just five days before the end of the administration, for what amounted to a three-day showcase.
The witness also gave evidence regarding the award of contracts linked to the Nigeria Air project.
He told the court that the contract for the establishment of Nigeria Air was awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited on April 4, 2022, for more than N299 million and was later extended to over N599 million.
According to him, investigations suggested that the contract extension was approved on the instructions of the former minister because of his relationship with the company’s owner, Gabriel Tilmann.
Odofin said investigators reached that conclusion after analysing the phone of a former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Aviation, Enitan Muyiwa Abel.
He told the court that the analysis uncovered a voice note allegedly sent by Sirika from Spain directing the Permanent Secretary to ensure that the contract was awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited.
Several documents and electronic materials tendered by the prosecution were admitted in evidence without objection from counsel representing the defendants.
Among the exhibits admitted by the court was a compact disc containing a voice note allegedly linked to Sirika, marked as Exhibit 37. The prosecution indicated that the recording would be played during the next hearing.
Sirika is being prosecuted alongside his daughter, Fatima Hadi Sirika, his son-in-law, Hamma Jalal Sule, and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited on an amended six-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds.
Justice Oriji adjourned the matter until June 17, 2026, for continuation of trial. :::
