EFCC Witness Alleges Sirika Presented Ethiopian Airlines Aircraft as Nigeria Air

EFCC Witness Alleges Sirika Presented Ethiopian Airlines Aircraft as Nigeria Air

The trial of former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Abubakar Sirika, continued on Wednesday before Justice S.C. Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, with an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness alleging that an Ethiopian Airlines aircraft was presented as the proposed national carrier, Nigeria Air, shortly before the end of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Testifying as the 12th Prosecution Witness (PW12), EFCC investigator Christopher Odofin told the court that the aircraft displayed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, in May 2023 was chartered from Ethiopian Airlines and merely carried the Nigeria Air livery for a brief public display.

Sirika is being prosecuted by the EFCC on an amended six-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds exceeding N2 billion. He is standing trial alongside his daughter, Fatima Hadi Sirika; his son-in-law, Hamma Jalal Sule; and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited.

According to Odofin, the aircraft arrived in Abuja on May 27, 2023, three days before the end of the Buhari administration, and departed for Addis Ababa on the morning of May 29, the day power was transferred to the new government.

Reading from a contract agreement involving Ethiopian Airlines, the witness stated that the aircraft was specifically chartered for the static display of the Nigeria Air brand.

He said the agreement provided that the aircraft would arrive in Abuja for public display of the Nigeria Air livery, remain on the ground until May 28, and return to Ethiopia on May 29. The chartered flight, he added, was operated by Ethiopian Airlines crew, while local models dressed in Nigeria Air uniforms were expected to participate in ceremonial photographs.

Odofin told the court that investigators concluded the arrangement was deliberately timed to coincide with the end of Sirika’s tenure and create the impression that the Nigeria Air project had become operational.

According to him, the Nigeria Air branding was removed after the display period, and the aircraft was subsequently returned to Ethiopian Airlines.

The witness further stated that documents obtained from Ethiopian Airlines confirmed that the charter arrangement lasted only three days and was entered into on May 24, 2023—just five days before Sirika left office.

He added that although the Nigeria Air project was intended to establish a national carrier, the agreement with Ethiopian Airlines was limited to the temporary display of the airline’s branding.

Odofin also testified on the award of contracts related to the Nigeria Air project. He told the court that a contract worth more than N299 million was awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited on April 4, 2022, for the airline’s start-up process.

According to him, the contract was later extended on October 17, 2022, with its value increased to over N599 million, allegedly on the directive of Sirika.

The witness said investigators reached that conclusion after analysing the phone of a former Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Enitan Muyiwa Abel, which allegedly contained a voice note from Sirika instructing him to ensure the contract was awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited.

All documents tendered by the prosecution were admitted in evidence without objection from the defence team.

Among the exhibits admitted by the court was a compact disc containing a voice note allegedly from Sirika, marked as Exhibit 37. The prosecution has requested permission for the recording to be played during the next hearing.

Justice Oriji adjourned the matter until June 17, 2026, for continuation of the trial.

EFCC Witness Alleges Sirika Presented Ethiopian Airlines Aircraft as Nigeria Air