N2bn scandal: How Sirika allegedly presented Ethiopian Aircraft as Nigeria Air

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, on Wednesday told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja that an aircraft belonging to Ethiopian Airlines was allegedly presented to Nigerians as the proposed national carrier, Nigeria Air, shortly before the end of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

The witness, Christopher Odofin, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the 12th prosecution witness, made the revelation while testifying before Justice S.C. Oriji in the trial involving alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of more than N2 billion in public funds.

Sirika is 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 filed by the EFCC.

According to Odofin, investigations revealed that the aircraft displayed as Nigeria Air at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on May 27, 2023, was chartered from Ethiopian Airlines solely for a ceremonial display and not for the commencement of operations by a functional national carrier.

The aircraft, adorned in Nigeria Air colours and branding, arrived in Abuja three days before the expiration of the Buhari administration and departed for Addis Ababa on the morning of May 29, 2023, the day President Bola Tinubu was sworn into office.

Reading from documents obtained during the investigation, Odofin told the court that the charter agreement explicitly stated that the aircraft would remain in Abuja for a static display of the Nigeria Air livery between May 27 and May 28 before returning to Ethiopia.

The agreement further indicated that the flight would be operated by Ethiopian Airlines crew members wearing Ethiopian Airlines 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, 2023, and leave early morning on May 29, 2023,” the witness told the court while reading from the agreement.

Odofin alleged that the display was deliberately timed to coincide with the end of Sirika’s tenure as aviation minister and create the impression that the long-promised national carrier had become operational.

He further stated that the EFCC established that the charter arrangement with Ethiopian Airlines was entered into on May 24, 2023 just five days before the minister left office and was solely for the temporary display of the Nigeria Air brand.

The witness also disclosed that the anti-graft agency obtained documents from Ethiopian Airlines following a response to an EFCC request for information dated June 12, 2023.

In a separate aspect of his testimony, Odofin told the court that the contract for the establishment of Nigeria Air was awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited on April 4, 2022, for over N299 million and was later extended to more than N599 million.

According to him, investigators traced communications suggesting that Sirika personally directed the award of the contract to the company.

“The investigating team arrived at this position after analysing the phone of a former Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Enitan Muyiwa Abel, which contained a voice note allegedly sent by the first defendant from Spain directing that the contract be awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited,” he said.

The witness added that Tianaero Nigeria Limited was linked to Gabriel Tilmann, whom he described as a close associate of the former minister.

During proceedings, the prosecution tendered several documents and exhibits, including a compact disc containing a voice note allegedly made by Sirika. The exhibit was admitted by the court without objection from any of the defence counsel.

Justice Oriji subsequently adjourned the matter until June 17, 2026, for continuation of trial and the playing of the audio recording in court.