How Hadi Sirika staged fake ‘Nigeria Air’ in his last three days in office – Witness
How Hadi Sirika staged fake ‘Nigeria Air’ in his last three days in office – Witness
By Idun Maximus
Fresh revelations emerged on Wednesday in the ongoing trial over the controversial Nigeria Air project as a prosecution witness told a Federal Capital Territory High Court that the aircraft unveiled as Nigeria Air in May 2023 was allegedly an Ethiopian Airlines plane temporarily rebranded for a three-day display.
The testimony came during the trial of former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Abubakar Sirika, who is facing charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of more than N2 billion in public funds.
Testifying before Justice S.C. Oriji, the 12th prosecution witness, Christopher Odofin, an EFCC investigator, alleged that the aircraft showcased at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, shortly before the end of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was never intended to operate as Nigeria Air.
According to the witness, documents obtained from Ethiopian Airlines showed that the aircraft was chartered solely for a brief static display of the Nigeria Air livery from May 27 to May 29, 2023, coinciding with the final days of Sirika’s tenure as aviation minister.
Reading from the charter agreement in court, Odofin stated that the aircraft departed Addis Ababa on May 26, 2023, arrived in Abuja on May 27 for the unveiling ceremony, remained on display for less than 72 hours and was flown back to Ethiopia on the morning of May 29, the day power changed hands to a new administration.
The agreement, he said, specified that the aircraft would be operated by Ethiopian Airlines crew dressed in the airline’s uniforms, while local models could be dressed in Nigeria Air uniforms for ceremonial photographs.
“The aircraft will stay at Abuja airport for static display of Nigeria Air livery until May 28, 2023, and leave early morning on May 29, 2023,” the witness quoted from the agreement.
Odofin told the court that investigators concluded the exercise was deliberately timed to create the impression that the Federal Government had fulfilled its promise to establish a national carrier before leaving office.
He further testified that after the display period, the Nigeria Air branding was removed and the aircraft returned to Ethiopian Airlines.
The witness also alleged irregularities in contracts awarded for the national carrier project.
According to him, the startup contract for Nigeria Air was awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited for over N299 million in April 2022 and later increased to more than N599 million in October of the same year.
Odofin claimed the EFCC’s investigation uncovered evidence suggesting that the contract extension was approved on the instructions of Sirika.
He told the court that analysis of the phone of a former Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Enitan Muyiwa Abel, revealed a voice note allegedly sent by Sirika from Spain directing that the contract be awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited.
The witness further stated that investigators believed the company’s owner, Gabriel Tilmann, had a close relationship with the former minister.
Several documents tendered by the prosecution were admitted without objection from the defence team representing Sirika, his daughter Fatima Hadi Sirika, son-in-law Hamma Jalal Sule, and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, who are standing trial alongside him.
Among the exhibits admitted by the court was a compact disc containing an alleged voice note by Sirika.
The prosecution has requested permission to play the recording during the next hearing.
Justice Oriji subsequently adjourned the matter until June 17, 2026, for continuation of trial.
