The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has informed the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja that former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, allegedly used an Ethiopian Airlines aircraft to represent the proposed Nigeria Air shortly before the end of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
The allegation was made by an EFCC investigator, Christopher Odofin, while giving testimony before Justice S.C. Oriji in the ongoing trial involving 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 a six-count amended charge relating to corruption allegations.
According to the witness, the aircraft showcased at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on May 27, 2023, was not a newly acquired national carrier aircraft but a chartered plane from Ethiopian Airlines used strictly for a short-term static display of the Nigeria Air branding.
He explained that the agreement between Ethiopian Airlines and the project promoters allowed the aircraft to fly from Addis Ababa to Abuja for the display, remain for a few days, and then return to Ethiopia, with Ethiopian crew operating the flight while local models could be dressed in Nigeria Air uniforms for ceremonial purposes.
The EFCC investigator further told the court that the timing of the display coincided with the end of Sirika’s tenure as minister, suggesting it was intended to create the impression that the national carrier project had been successfully launched.
He added that the Nigeria Air branding was removed shortly after the brief exhibition before the aircraft was flown back to Ethiopia.
Odofin also presented documents from Ethiopian Airlines confirming that the arrangement lasted only from May 27 to May 29, 2023, and was strictly for the purpose of the promotional display.
The court was also told that a consultancy contract for the Nigeria Air project was awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited, a company allegedly linked to a close associate of the former minister, with contracts initially valued at over N299 million and later extended beyond N599 million.
Investigators further alleged that the contract extension was influenced by directives linked to Sirika, referencing a voice note purportedly sent while he was abroad, instructing that the contract be awarded to the company.
Several documents, including a compact disc containing the alleged voice recording, were tendered as evidence and admitted by the court without objection from the defence.
The trial was adjourned to June 17, 2026, for continuation of hearing.
