An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigator told an FCT High Court in Abuja on Wednesday how former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, allegedly disguised an Ethiopian Airlines aircraft as Nigeria’s national carrier during the time of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
EFCC’s 12th witness, Christopher Odofin, said that the aircraft was loaned to Nigeria for just three days, from 27 to 29 May 2023. He testified that the plane was returned to Ethiopia right after it was presented as Nigeria Air.
According to the witness, this detail was in a part of the contract agreement with Ethiopian Airlines, which he read in court.
Mr Odofin also mentioned that the contract was given to Tanaero Nigeria Limited (TNL), a company owned by Mr Sirika’s close friend, Gabriel Tilmann.
The EFCC is prosecuting Mr Sirika, his daughter Fatima Sirika, her husband Jalal Hamma, and their business, Al Buraq Global Investment, on six counts, including contract fraud involving N2.8 billion.
One of the charges states that Mr Sirika used his position to give TNL an unfair advantage for the Nigeria Air project. All the accused denied the claims.
During his testimony, Mr Odofin said the EFCC’s team looked into a voice note linked to Mr Sirika, where he insisted that the contract must go to TNL.
“The investigating team found this out when they analyzed the phone of Enitan Muyiwa Abel, who was a Permanent Secretary in Mr Sirika’s ministry. A voice note was found sent to the Permanent Secretary while Mr Sirika was in Spain, instructing him to ensure that the contract was given to TNL,” he said.
In May 2023, while still in office, Mr Sirika assured Nigerians that Nigeria Air would launch before he left the position. He reportedly kept this promise just three days before he stepped down.
This supposed launch raised many eyebrows. In June 2023, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) turned down Nigeria Air’s request for certification to move to “phase two” of getting an Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC).
The NCAA stated that there was not enough preparation for the airline to start operations.
Earlier in 2022, the former minister had said that Ethiopian Airlines would be a core investor in Nigeria Air, holding 49 percent of the shares. This did not sit well with local airline operators who felt they could run Nigeria Air better than a foreign airline.
At the launch event, only one aircraft from Ethiopian Airlines was shown. This caused a lot of concern among attendees.
How the aircraft was allegedly passed off
On Wednesday, Mr Odofin testified that part of the contract with Ethiopian Airlines stated, “The aircraft will leave Addis Ababa (ADD) late evening on 26 May 2023, to arrive early morning on 27 May 2023 at Abuja (ABV) airport. The aircraft will remain at ABV airport for a static display of Nigeria Air livery until May 28, 2023.
“The aircraft will depart ABV airport early morning on 29 May 2023. The chartered flight will be operated by Ethiopian Airlines crew in their uniform. The Federal Government of Nigeria and Nigeria Air may arrange for local models in Nigeria Air uniforms to pose for ceremonial photos. The models may travel to Addis Ababa so they can fly with the chartered flight to ABV.”
This was a plan to mislead Nigerians into thinking that the former minister had kept his promise, the witness stated.
“Less than 72 hours after the aircraft was displayed, the Nigeria Air logo was removed, and the plane was flown back to Ethiopian Airlines in Addis Ababa,” he said.
The witness also mentioned that there was information and documents to support his claim, which the EFCC received after writing to Ethiopian Airlines.
On 24 May 2023, a charter agreement with Ethiopian Airlines was made just five days before the end of the defendant’s tenure for only a static display of the Nigeria Air logo on an aircraft, the witness noted.
The EFCC presented the documents as evidence and a compact disc with a voice note from Mr Sirika. The agency asked that the voice note be played at the next court session.
According to the witness, the contract originally given to TNL for over N299 million on 4 April 2022 was later extended on 17 October 2022. Following Mr Sirika’s instructions, the extension increased the total contract amount to over N599 million.
The trial judge, Slyvanus Oriji, postponed the case until 10 June.
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