A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of Abubakar Sirika, former Minister of Aviation, Hadi , has told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja that the aircraft unveiled as Nigeria Air in May 2023 was actually an Ethiopian Airlines aircraft temporarily branded for a three-day display.
The revelation came on Wednesday during proceedings before Sylvanus Oriji, (Justice) as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) continued its prosecution of Sirika and three other defendants over allegations of abuse of office and misappropriation of more than N2 billion in public funds linked to the Nigeria Air project.
Testifying as the 12th prosecution witness (PW12), Christopher Odofin, EFCC investigator said the anti-graft agency’s investigation uncovered documents showing that the aircraft displayed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, shortly before the end of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, was chartered from Ethiopian Airlines solely for a temporary exhibition.
According to him, the aircraft arrived in Abuja on May 27, 2023, three days before the end of the Buhari administration, carrying the Nigeria Air livery and remained on display until May 29, 2023, when it was returned to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
