FRESH revelations emerged on Wednesday in the ongoing trial of former Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Hadi Sirika, as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) told a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja that the aircraft unveiled as Nigeria Air in May 2023 was actually chartered from Ethiopian Airlines for a three-day display.
News Point Nigeria reports that according to the anti-graft agency, the aircraft was brought into Nigeria shortly before the end of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari and presented to the public as evidence that the long-awaited national carrier project had materialised.
The EFCC alleged that the aircraft arrived in Abuja on May 27, 2023, remained on static display bearing Nigeria Air livery for less than 72 hours, and was returned to Ethiopia on May 29, 2023, the same day Sirika exited office.
The allegations were made by the 12th prosecution witness, Christopher Odofin, an EFCC investigator, while testifying before Justice S.C. Oriji in the ongoing trial of Sirika and three others over alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds exceeding N2 billion.
Sirika is standing trial 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 spokesman, Dele Oyewale, Odofin told the court that documents obtained from Ethiopian Airlines revealed that the aircraft displayed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on May 27, 2023, was chartered specifically for a ceremonial unveiling bearing Nigeria Air colours.
Reading from the charter agreement between Ethiopian Airlines and the promoters of Nigeria Air, the witness stated that the aircraft departed Addis Ababa on the evening of May 26, 2023, arrived in Abuja on May 27 for the unveiling event and departed back to Ethiopia on May 29.
The agreement, according to the witness, clearly outlined the purpose and duration of the arrangement.
“The aircraft will depart from Addis Ababa late evening of May 26, 2023 for it to be positioned early morning of May 27, 2023 at the Abuja (ABV) airport. The aircraft will stay in ABV airport for static display of Nigeria Air livery until May 28, 2023. The aircraft will leave ABV airport early morning on May, 29, 2023. The chartered flight will be operated by the Ethiopian Airline crew in Ethiopian Airline uniform.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria and Nigeria Air may put together local models who will be in Nigeria Air uniforms to pose for ceremonial pictures. The models may come to Addis Ababa so they may fly with the chartered flight to ABV,” part of the agreement read.
Odofin told the court that the timing of the unveiling was not coincidental, alleging that it was deliberately scheduled to coincide with the expiration of Sirika’s tenure on May 29, 2023.
He further alleged that the aircraft was presented to Nigerians as proof that the Nigeria Air project had become a reality, despite the arrangement being temporary.
According to the witness, after the display period ended, the Nigeria Air branding was removed from the aircraft before it returned to Addis Ababa.
The EFCC investigator said documents supplied by Ethiopian Airlines showed that the charter arrangement covered only the period between May 27 and May 29, 2023.
He added that the airline disclosed the information in a letter dated June 12, 2023, sent in response to an EFCC inquiry into the Nigeria Air project.
Odofin further testified that although Nigeria Air was conceived as a national carrier initiative, the charter agreement with Ethiopian Airlines was only executed on May 24, 2023, just five days before Sirika left office and was limited to displaying the Nigeria Air logo on the aircraft.
The witness also testified on the award of a consultancy contract for the establishment of Nigeria Air to Tianaero Nigeria Limited, a company allegedly linked to Gabriel Tilmann, whom he described as a close associate of the former minister.
According to Odofin, the company was initially awarded a consultancy contract worth more than N299 million on April 4, 2022.
He told the court that the contract was subsequently extended on October 17, 2022, increasing its value to over N599 million.
The EFCC investigator alleged that the extension was approved on Sirika’s instructions due to his relationship with the company’s principal.
“The investigating team arrived at this position when the phone of one Enitan Muyiwa Abel, who was a Permanent Secretary in the first defendant’s ministry, was analysed, showing a voice note sent to the Permanent Secretary while the first defendant was in Spain, instructing him to ensure that the contract was awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited,” he said.
During the proceedings, the prosecution tendered several documents before the court, including a compact disc said to contain a voice note allegedly sent by Sirika.
The recording was admitted and marked as Exhibit 37 alongside accompanying certificates of identification and authorisation.
Counsel to the prosecution subsequently applied for the recording to be played during the next hearing.
None of the defence lawyers objected to the admission of the documents.
The trial was adjourned for the continuation of proceedings and the playback of the audio recording, as the EFCC continues to press its case against the former minister and the other defendants over the Nigeria Air project and related allegations.