The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja that former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, allegedly presented an aircraft belonging to Ethiopian Airlines as Nigeria Air during the final days of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
The allegation was made on Wednesday by the 12th prosecution witness, Christopher Odofin, an EFCC investigator, during proceedings before Justice S.C. Oriji in the ongoing trial of Sirika and three others over alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of more than N2 billion in public funds.
Sirika is being prosecuted alongside his daughter, Fatima Sirika; his son-in-law, Hamma Sule; and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited on an amended six-count charge.
According to a statement issued by EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, Odofin told the court that the aircraft displayed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on May 27, 2023, was chartered from Ethiopian Airlines solely for a short-term display in Nigeria Air colours.
The witness explained that the aircraft departed Addis Ababa on May 26, 2023, arrived in Abuja on May 27 for the unveiling ceremony, and returned to Ethiopia on May 29 after spending less than 72 hours in Nigeria.
Odofin further disclosed that the charter agreement stipulated that the flight would be operated by Ethiopian Airlines crew members in their official uniforms, while local models dressed in Nigeria Air uniforms would participate in ceremonial photographs.
“The aircraft will stay at Abuja airport for static display of Nigeria Air livery until May 28 and depart on May 29. The operation will be handled by Ethiopian Airlines crew,” the agreement stated.
According to the witness, the display was deliberately timed to coincide with the end of Sirika’s tenure on May 29, 2023, and was presented to the public as evidence that the Nigeria Air project had become operational.
He added that the Nigeria Air branding was removed from the aircraft before it departed for Ethiopia, indicating that the arrangement was temporary.
Odofin also told the court that Ethiopian Airlines confirmed the limited scope of the arrangement in a letter dated June 12, 2023, sent in response to an EFCC inquiry.
The witness further revealed that a consultancy contract linked to the Nigeria Air project was awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited, a company allegedly associated with Gabriel Tilmann, whom investigators described as a close associate of the former minister.
The contract, initially valued at over N299 million in April 2022, was reportedly increased to more than N599 million in October 2022.
According to Odofin, investigators concluded that the contract extension was approved on Sirika’s instructions, citing evidence obtained from the mobile phone of a former Permanent Secretary in the ministry.
He told the court that a voice note allegedly sent by Sirika from Spain directed that the contract be awarded to the company.
The prosecution subsequently tendered several documents, including a compact disc containing the alleged voice recording, which was admitted into evidence without objection from the defence.
