A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, on Wednesday told an Abuja High Court that the controversial unveiling of Nigeria Air in May 2023 was a carefully orchestrated three-day display designed to create the impression that the national carrier had become operational.
The witness, Christopher Odofin, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), testified before Justice S.C. Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court.
According to Odofin, an aircraft belonging to Ethiopian Airlines was repainted with Nigeria Air branding and flown into the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on May 27, 2023. The aircraft remained on ground for display purposes before departing for Addis Ababa on May 29, 2023, the same day Sirika left office following the end of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Reading from a charter agreement between Nigeria Air promoters and Ethiopian Airlines, the witness stated that the aircraft was brought to Abuja solely for a static display of the Nigeria Air livery. The agreement further provided that the aircraft would be operated by Ethiopian Airlines crew members wearing their official 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 depart on May 29, 2023,” the witness read from the document tendered before the court.
Odofin told the court that investigators discovered the display was deliberately timed to coincide with the end of Sirika’s tenure as Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development and was intended to portray the unveiling as the fulfilment of his long-standing promise to revive Nigeria’s national carrier.
He further disclosed that after less than 72 hours in Nigeria, the aircraft’s Nigeria Air branding was removed and the plane returned to Ethiopian Airlines in Addis Ababa.
The witness also revealed that the EFCC obtained documents from Ethiopian Airlines confirming that the arrangement was a short-term charter agreement lasting only from May 27 to May 29, 2023. The documents were reportedly submitted in response to an EFCC request for information dated June 12, 2023.
Sirika is currently standing trial 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 the misappropriation of public funds exceeding N2 billion.
The prosecution also alleged that the contract for the establishment of Nigeria Air was awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited, a company linked to Gabriel Tilmann, described as a close associate of the former minister.
During the proceedings, Odofin stated that a contract initially awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited for over N299 million in April 2022 was later extended to more than N599 million in October 2022. He claimed investigators uncovered evidence suggesting that the extension was influenced by directives from Sirika.
According to the witness, analysis of the mobile phone of a former Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Enitan Muyiwa Abel, allegedly revealed a voice note sent by Sirika from Spain instructing that the contract be awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited.
The court also admitted several documents and exhibits tendered by the prosecution, including a compact disc containing an audio recording allegedly linked to Sirika. The prosecution requested that the recording be played at the next adjourned sitting.
The matter was subsequently adjourned for the continuation of trial and further presentation of evidence by the prosecution.
