The trial of former Aviation Minister Hadi Abubakar Sirika took a dramatic turn on Wednesday as an EFCC witness told the court how the ex-minister allegedly hired an Ethiopian Airlines aircraft and disguised it as the long-promised Nigeria Air flagship.
The testimony came during the ongoing N2 billion fraud case at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.
How the Decoy Aircraft Was Used
The 12th prosecution witness, EFCC investigator Christopher Odofin, told Justice S.C. Oriji that on May 27, 2023 – just three days before the end of the Buhari administration – an Ethiopian Airlines plane landed in Abuja.
It was painted in Nigeria Air livery for a brief static display at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. Local models in Nigeria Air uniforms posed for ceremonial photos, while the actual Ethiopian crew remained in their own uniforms.
The aircraft was flown back to Addis Ababa early on May 29, 2023 – the very day power was handed over to the Tinubu administration. The Nigeria Air logo was quickly removed.
Odofin explained that the arrangement was a short-term charter meant only for the three-day display. Documents from Ethiopian Airlines, tendered in court, confirmed the deal was signed on May 24, 2023 – barely five days before the government’s tenure expired.
Contract Awarded to Sirika’s Associate
The witness further disclosed that the contract for setting up Nigeria Air was awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited, owned by Gabriel Tilmann, a close associate of Sirika.
The initial contract, valued at over N299 million, was later extended to more than N599 million on Sirika’s directive. A voice note from Sirika instructing a permanent secretary to award the contract to the company was also tendered as evidence.
Sirika, his daughter Fatima Hadi Sirika, son-in-law Hamma Jalal Sule, and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited are facing a six-count amended charge bordering on abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds.
Court Adjourns Till June 17
All documents presented by the prosecution were admitted without objection from the defence counsel.
The prosecution also applied to play a voice note marked as Exhibit 37 at the next sitting.
Justice Oriji adjourned the matter to June 17, 2026, for continuation of trial.
The case has drawn huge public interest because of the high expectations Nigerians had for the Nigeria Air project, which was repeatedly promised but never materialised.
Many see the ongoing trial as part of the EFCC’s push to hold former public officials accountable for major projects that consumed huge public funds with little or no results.
