Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A prosecution witness has testified before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja that the aircraft displayed as Nigeria Air in May 2023 was a chartered plane from Ethiopian Airlines, kept on the tarmac for only three days before being returned to Addis Ababa. The 12th prosecution witness, Christopher Odofin, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, gave the testimony on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, in the ongoing trial of former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, and three others over an alleged ₦2 billion fraud.
Sirika is facing an amended six-count charge bordering on abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds. He is being tried alongside his daughter, Fatima Hadi Sirika; his son-in-law, Hamma Jalal Sule; and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited.
According to the EFCC, Odofin told Justice S.C. Oriji that the aircraft adorned with Nigeria Air livery arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on May 27, 2023, three days before the end of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, and was flown back to Addis Ababa on the morning of May 29, 2023, the handover date to the incoming government. The witness said the plane was operated throughout by Ethiopian Airlines crew in Ethiopian Airlines uniform and was brought in under a charter arrangement for a “static display” of the Nigeria Air livery for just three days.
Reading from a charter agreement between Ethiopian Airlines and the promoters of Nigeria Air, Odofin told the court: “The aircraft will depart from Addis Ababa late evening of May 26, 2023 for it to be positioned early morning of May 27, 2023 at the Abuja airport. 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 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.”
The witness alleged that the arrangement was deliberately planned to coincide with the end of Sirika’s tenure as Minister of Aviation and to pass the aircraft off as the actualisation of his promise to return a national carrier to Nigeria. After less than 72 hours on display, Odofin said, the Nigeria Air logo was removed from the aircraft and it was flown back to Ethiopian Airlines in Addis Ababa. The witness further disclosed that the investigating team confirmed the charter arrangement based on information and documents received from Ethiopian Airlines following a letter dated June 12, 2023, from the airline in response to an EFCC request for information regarding the Nigeria Air project.
The court also heard that a contract for the establishment of Nigeria Air was awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited, a company owned by a close associate and friend of the former minister. Analysis of a phone belonging to a former Permanent Secretary in the ministry allegedly revealed a voice note from Sirika directing that the contract be awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited. The prosecution tendered a compact disc containing the voice recording, which will be played in open court at a later hearing.
Justice Oriji adjourned the case until June 17, 2026, for the continuation of trial proceedings.
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