Sirika’s trial: Witness says Ethiopian Airlines plane was allegedly presented as “Nigeria Air”

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

The testimony was given on Wednesday by the 12th prosecution witness, Christopher Odofin, during proceedings before Justice S.C. Oriji in the case involving Sirika and three other defendants.

Sirika faces an amended six‑count charge from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that alleges abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds exceeding N2 billion. His co‑defendants are his daughter Fatima Hadi Sirika, his son‑in‑law Hamma Jalal Sule, and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited.

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

The witness explained that the plane was kept in Abuja for a brief static display before leaving for Addis Ababa on 29 May 2023.

Reading from documents presented to the court, Odofin stated that the arrangement involved a chartered Ethiopian Airlines aircraft scheduled to arrive for the display of the Nigeria Air branding.

“The aircraft will stay in Abuja airport for static display of Nigeria Air livery until 28 May 2023. The aircraft will leave Abuja airport early morning on 29 May 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, the charter agreement with Ethiopian Airlines was entered into on 24 May 2023, a few days before the administration ended.

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

He added that documents obtained from Ethiopian Airlines were received by investigators after the airline responded 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.