The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja how former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Abubakar Sirika, allegedly presented an aircraft belonging to Ethiopian Airlines as the long-promised Nigeria Air aircraft shortly before the end of the administration of late former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The disclosure came from the 12th prosecution witness, Christopher Odofin, an EFCC investigator, during proceedings before Justice S.C. Oriji in the ongoing trial of Sirika and three other defendants over alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds exceeding N2billion.
Sirika is standing trial alongside his daughter, Fatima Hadi Sirika, his son-in-law, Hamma Jalal Sule, and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited on an amended six-count charge brought by the anti-graft agency. 
Testifying before the court, Odofin said investigations uncovered a charter arrangement involving Ethiopian Airlines under which an aircraft was temporarily painted in Nigeria Air colours and flown into Abuja for what prosecutors described as a staged unveiling.
Reading from a contract agreement between Ethiopian Airlines and parties involved in the Nigeria Air project, the witness told the court that the aircraft departed Addis Ababa on the evening of May 26, 2023, arriving at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja early on May 27.
According to the agreement cited in court, the aircraft was scheduled to remain in Abuja solely for the display of the Nigeria Air livery until May 28 before departing for Addis Ababa on the morning of May 29, 2023, the day power was transferred to a new administration.
The document further stated that the chartered flight would be operated by Ethiopian Airlines personnel wearing the airline’s uniforms, while local models dressed in Nigeria Air uniforms could be used for ceremonial photographs.
Odofin told the court that investigators concluded the display was deliberately timed to coincide with the final days of Sirika’s tenure as aviation minister and to create the impression that the Nigeria Air project had become operational.
“The aircraft stayed for less than 72 hours and, after the display, the Nigeria Air logo was removed before it was flown back to Ethiopian Airlines in Addis Ababa,” Odofin said.
He further disclosed that EFCC investigators obtained documents from Ethiopian Airlines following a June 12, 2023, response to the commission’s request for information regarding Nigeria Air.
According to him, the documents confirmed that the charter arrangement was strictly for a three-day static display of the Nigeria Air branding.
Odofin noted that although the Nigeria Air project was officially intended to establish a national carrier, the charter agreement with Ethiopian Airlines was only executed on May 24, 2023, just five days before Sirika left office.
He also testified about the award of contracts linked to the Nigeria Air project. He told the court that a contract valued at over N299 million was awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited on April 4, 2022, for the airline’s start-up operations.
According to him, the same contract was later extended on October 17, 2022, increasing its value to more than N599 million, allegedly on the directives of Sirika.
The witness alleged that investigators reached that conclusion after analysing the mobile phone of Enitan Muyiwa Abel, a former permanent secretary in the ministry.
According to Odofin, investigators recovered a voice note allegedly sent by Sirika while he was in Spain, directing the permanent secretary to ensure that the contract was awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited, a company linked to Gabriel Tilmann, whom prosecutors described as a close associate of the former minister.
The prosecution also tendered several documents, all of which were admitted without objection from defence counsel representing the four defendants.
Among the exhibits admitted was a compact disc containing an alleged voice note from Sirika, marked as Exhibit 37. The prosecution requested that the recording be played in open court during the next hearing.
Justice Oriji subsequently adjourned the case until June 17, 2026, for continuation of the trial.
