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 brought by the anti-graft agency.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja how former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Abubakar Sirika, allegedly presented an aircraft belonging to Ethiopian Airlines as the long-promised Nigeria Air aircraft shortly before the end of the administration of late former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The disclosure came from the 12th prosecution witness, Christopher Odofin, an EFCC investigator, during proceedings before Justice S.C. Oriji in the ongoing trial of Sirika and three other defendants over alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds exceeding N2billion.
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 brought by the anti-graft agency.
Testifying before the court, Odofin said investigations uncovered a charter arrangement involving Ethiopian Airlines under which an aircraft was temporarily painted in Nigeria Air colours and flown into Abuja for what prosecutors described as a staged unveiling.
