‘It was a static display’: EFCC witness details alleged Nigeria Air deception in court
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday told the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja that former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, allegedly used an Ethiopian Airlines aircraft adorned with Nigeria Air branding to create the impression that the national carrier had commenced operations.
Testifying before Justice S.C. Oriji as the 12th prosecution witness (PW12), EFCC investigator Christopher Odofin said the aircraft displayed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, between May 27 and May 29, 2023, was chartered solely for a temporary exhibition of the Nigeria Air livery.
Sirika is standing trial alongside his daughter, Fatima Hadi Sirika, son-in-law, Hamma Jalal Sule, and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited on an amended six-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of over N2 billion in public funds.
Reading from the charter agreement between Nigeria Air and Ethiopian Airlines, Odofin quoted a section of the document which stated: “The aircraft will stay in ABV airport for static display of Nigeria Air livery until May 28, 2023. The aircraft will leave ABV airport early morning on May 29, 2023.”
He further read from the agreement: “The chartered flight will be operated by the Ethiopian Airline crew in Ethiopian Airline uniform. The Federal Government of Nigeria and Nigeria Air may put together local models who will be in Nigeria Air uniforms to pose for ceremonial pictures.”
According to the witness, the arrangement was carefully timed to coincide with the end of Sirika’s tenure as minister.
“The display of the aircraft at Abuja International Airport was deliberately planned to coincide with the end of the first defendant’s tenure as Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development on May 29, 2023, and to pass the aircraft off as the actualisation of his promise of the return of Nigeria Air,” Odofin told the court.
He added that after less than 72 hours on display, the Nigeria Air branding was removed and the aircraft was flown back to Addis Ababa.
