The Nigeria Air static display showcased days before former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika left office was merely a three-day charter arrangement, an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness told a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja. The witness further alleged that over N2 billion was misappropriated during the implementation of the Nigeria Air project.
Christopher Odofin, the 12th prosecution witness and an EFCC investigator, made the allegation before Justice S.C. Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja. He testified in the ongoing trial of former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, alongside three other defendants facing charges of abuse of office and diversion of public funds.
According to Odofin, the aircraft unveiled under the Nigeria Air brand on May 27, 2023, was not a newly acquired national carrier aircraft. Instead, he said it was chartered from Ethiopian Airlines solely for a temporary static display lasting less than three days.
Reading from a charter agreement between Ethiopian Airlines and the promoters of the project, the witness told the court that the aircraft departed Addis Ababa on May 26, arrived in Abuja on May 27 and returned to Ethiopia on May 29, 2023.
He quoted the agreement as stating: “The aircraft will stay in ABV airport for static display of Nigeria Air livery until May 28, 2023. The aircraft will leave ABV airport early morning on May 29, 2023.”
Odofin further disclosed that the chartered flight remained under the operation of Ethiopian Airlines throughout the period. He said the agreement specified that Ethiopian Airlines crew members would operate the aircraft while local models could wear Nigeria Air uniforms for ceremonial photographs.
“The chartered flight will be operated by the Ethiopian Airline crew in Ethiopian Airline uniform,” the document stated.
Nigeria Air Static Display Under Scrutiny
The EFCC witness alleged that the unveiling was deliberately timed to coincide with the expiration of Sirika’s tenure as Minister of Aviation on May 29, 2023.
According to him, the aircraft was presented to Nigerians as evidence that the Nigeria Air project had become a reality. However, investigators later discovered that the arrangement was temporary and intended only for a public display.
Odofin told the court that the Nigeria Air branding was removed shortly after the event. He added that the aircraft returned to Ethiopia less than 72 hours after arriving in Abuja.
The witness said documents obtained directly from Ethiopian Airlines confirmed that the charter agreement covered only the period between May 27 and May 29, 2023. He explained that the airline supplied the information through a letter dated June 12, 2023, following an EFCC request.
In addition, Odofin testified that the charter arrangement was signed on May 24, 2023, only five days before Sirika left office. He claimed the agreement was limited to displaying the Nigeria Air logo on the aircraft rather than establishing an operational national carrier.
The prosecution also presented evidence concerning consultancy contracts linked to the airline project. Odofin alleged that Tianaero Nigeria Limited received a consultancy contract worth over N299 million on April 4, 2022.
According to him, the contract was later extended on October 17, 2022, raising its value to more than N599 million. Investigators reportedly concluded that the extension was granted based on instructions from Sirika due to his relationship with the company’s principal, Gabriel Tilmann.
“The investigating team arrived at this position when the phone of one Enitan Muyiwa Abel, who was a Permanent Secretary in the first defendant’s ministry, was analysed,” Odofin told the court.
He added that investigators recovered a voice note allegedly sent by Sirika while in Spain, directing that the contract should be awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited.
Meanwhile, the prosecution tendered several documents, including a compact disc containing the alleged voice recording, which was admitted as Exhibit 37. The prosecution requested permission to play the recording during the next hearing, while defence counsel raised no objections to the documents presented.
Justice Oriji subsequently adjourned the case until June 17, 2026, for continuation of the trial, as proceedings surrounding the controversial Nigeria Air project continue to unfold.
