Sirika’s trial: Witness tells court how Ethiopian Airlines plane was allegedly presented as ‘Nigeria Air’

A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja that an aircraft belonging to Ethiopian Airlines was allegedly used for the public display of the proposed Nigeria Air project in 2023.

The disclosure was made on Wednesday by the 12th prosecution witness, Christopher Odofin, during proceedings before Justice S.C. Oriji in the trial involving the former minister and three others.

Sirika is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on an amended six-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds exceeding N2 billion.

Others standing trial alongside him are his daughter, Fatima Hadi Sirika, his son-in-law, Hamma Jalal Sule, and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited.

According to Odofin, investigations revealed that an aircraft bearing the Nigeria Air livery arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on May 27, 2023, three days before the end of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The witness told the court that the aircraft remained in Abuja for a brief display before departing for Addis Ababa on May 29, 2023.

Reading from documents tendered before the court, Odofin stated that the arrangement involved a chartered Ethiopian Airlines aircraft which was scheduled to arrive in Abuja for the display of the Nigeria Air branding.

“The aircraft will stay in Abuja airport for static display of Nigeria Air livery until May 28, 2023. The aircraft will leave Abuja airport early morning on May 29, 2023,” the document read in part.

Odofin further told the court that the aircraft was operated by Ethiopian Airlines personnel and that the display was planned to coincide with the end of Sirika’s tenure as Minister of Aviation.

According to him, investigations showed that the charter arrangement with Ethiopian Airlines was entered into on May 24, 2023, a few days before the end of the administration.

The witness also stated that after the display period, the Nigeria Air branding was removed and the aircraft returned to Ethiopia.

He further told the court that documents obtained from Ethiopian Airlines were received by investigators following a response from the airline to an EFCC request for information on the Nigeria Air project.

All documents tendered by the prosecution were admitted without objection from the defence team.

Among the exhibits admitted by the court was a compact disc containing a voice recording attributed to Sirika.

The prosecution informed the court that the recording would be played at the next adjourned sitting.