A prosecution witness on Wednesday told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja that former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, allegedly used a chartered aircraft belonging to Ethiopian Airlines to stage a brief “Nigeria Air” appearance days before the end of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
The 12th prosecution witness, Christopher Odofin, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, made the disclosure before Justice S.C. Oriji of the FCT High Court while giving evidence in the ongoing trial over alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of over N2bn linked to the controversial national carrier project.
Sirika is being prosecuted alongside his daughter, Fatima Hadi Sirika; his son-in-law, Hamma Jalal Sule; and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited.
‘Nigeria Air’ aircraft was a chartered Ethiopian plane – witness
Odofin told the court that what was presented publicly as the arrival of Nigeria’s new national carrier was, in reality, a foreign aircraft temporarily repainted and deployed for a short ceremonial display.
According to him, the aircraft was flown from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, into Abuja on May 27, 2023, and remained on the tarmac of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport for a static exhibition until May 29, 2023 — the same day power transitioned from the Buhari administration.
He said the arrangement was deliberately structured to align with the minister’s exit from office.
“The aircraft departed Addis Ababa late on May 26, 2023, arrived Abuja early May 27, remained for static display of Nigeria Air livery, and left again on May 29, 2023,” the witness quoted from charter documents tendered before the court.
‘Carefully staged display’ to project fake airline launch
The investigator further told the court that the operation was designed to create the impression that the long-promised national carrier had become operational under Sirika’s supervision.
He added that the charter agreement permitted the aircraft to be branded with Nigeria Air insignia temporarily, while Ethiopian Airlines crew operated the flight throughout the period.
Odofin also informed the court that local models were reportedly dressed in Nigeria Air uniforms for ceremonial photographs as part of the staged unveiling, according to contractual correspondence reviewed by investigators.
Contract tied to close associate of former minister
The court heard that the Nigeria Air project contract was awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited, a company linked to Gabriel Tilmann, described as a close associate of the former minister.
Investigators told the court that the aircraft’s brief deployment and branding exercise lasted less than 72 hours before the Nigeria Air livery was removed and the aircraft returned to Ethiopia.
Odofin also confirmed that documents obtained from Ethiopian Airlines in response to a request by the EFCC corroborated the timeline of the charter arrangement, which was executed just days before the end of Sirika’s tenure as aviation minister under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He added that all exhibits presented by the prosecution were duly certified and not objected to by defence counsel.
Among the exhibits tendered is a compact disc containing an alleged voice note attributed to Sirika, marked as Exhibit 37, which the prosecution said it intends to play at the next hearing date.
Justice Oriji adjourned the matter for continuation of trial and possible playback of the recorded evidence.
The case, which has drawn public attention due to the controversial launch of the proposed national carrier, continues as the EFCC presses allegations bordering on abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds.
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