The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja that former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, allegedly presented an aircraft belonging to Ethiopian Airlines as the proposed Nigeria Air shortly before the end of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The allegation was made on Wednesday 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 N2bn.
Sirika is being prosecuted alongside his daughter, Fatima Sirika, his son-in-law, Hamma Sule, and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited on an amended six-count charge.
A statement by the EFCC’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale, said during his testimony, Odofin told the court that the aircraft displayed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on May 27, 2023, was chartered from Ethiopian Airlines solely for a three-day static display bearing Nigeria Air livery.
Reading from a charter agreement between Ethiopian Airlines and the promoters of Nigeria Air, the witness stated that the aircraft departed Addis Ababa on May 26, 2023, arrived in Abuja on May 27 for the display, and returned to Ethiopia on May 29, 2023.
