The 12th Prosecution Witness (PW12), Christopher Odofin, on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, narrated before Justice S.C. Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, how former Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Hadi Abubakar Sirika, allegedly presented an aircraft belonging to Ethiopian Airlines as the long-promised Nigeria Air shortly before the end of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Odofin, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), gave the testimony during the ongoing trial of Sirika and three other defendants.
Alleged Staging of Nigeria Air Aircraft
According to the witness, the aircraft, which was painted in Nigeria Air colours and branding, landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on May 27, 2023—just three days before the expiration of the Buhari administration.
He stated that the aircraft remained on display at the airport for less than 72 hours before departing for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on the morning of May 29, 2023, the same day power was transferred to the succeeding administration.
The witness alleged that the arrangement was carefully designed to create the impression that the Federal Government had successfully launched Nigeria Air, a flagship project championed by Sirika during his tenure as Aviation Minister.
Charges Against Sirika and Co-Defendants
Sirika is currently being prosecuted by the EFCC on an amended six-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office and the misappropriation of public funds exceeding N2 billion.
Also standing trial alongside him are his daughter, Fatima Hadi Sirika; his son-in-law, Hamma Jalal Sule; and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited.
The anti-graft agency alleges that contracts connected to the Nigeria Air project were awarded in violation of due process and involved the misuse of public resources.
Contract Awarded to Associate’s Company
During the proceedings, the prosecution maintained that the contract for the establishment of Nigeria Air was awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited, a company owned by Gabriel Tilmann, described as a close friend and associate of the former minister.
Odofin informed the court that the investigation uncovered documents and agreements showing the nature of the arrangements entered into by parties involved in the project.
Details of Ethiopian Airlines Charter Agreement
Reading from a section of the charter agreement involving Ethiopian Airlines, the witness outlined the terms under which the aircraft was brought into Nigeria for the event.
According to the agreement:
“The aircraft will depart from Addis Ababa (ADD) late evening of May 26, 2023 for it to be positioned early morning of May 27, 2023 at the Abuja (ABV) airport.
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. The chartered flight will be operated by 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 models may come to Addis Ababa so they may fly with the chartered flight to ABV.”
Display Timed to Coincide With End of Tenure
The witness told the court that the display was deliberately scheduled to coincide with the final days of Sirika’s tenure as Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
According to him, the intention was to portray the aircraft as evidence that the Nigeria Air project had been successfully delivered before the administration left office.
He further stated that immediately after the display period ended, the Nigeria Air branding was removed from the aircraft before it returned to Ethiopian Airlines in Addis Ababa.
EFCC Investigation Findings
Odofin further disclosed that the investigative team established that Ethiopian Airlines entered into a short-term charter arrangement solely for the purpose of displaying the Nigeria Air livery for three days, from May 27 to May 29, 2023.
He explained that this information was obtained from documents and records provided by Ethiopian Airlines following a letter dated June 12, 2023, which the airline sent in response to an EFCC request for information regarding the Nigeria Air project.
The witness noted that although the broader objective of the project was the establishment of a national carrier, the specific charter agreement with Ethiopian Airlines was executed on May 24, 2023—only five days before the end of Sirika’s tenure—and was limited to the temporary display of the Nigeria Air logo on the aircraft.
Documentary Evidence Admitted
The court was informed that all documents tendered by the prosecution had been duly signed, authorized, and accompanied by certificates of identification.
None of the defence counsel representing the four defendants raised objections to the admission of the documents into evidence.
Among the exhibits admitted by the court was a compact disc containing a voice note allegedly made by the first defendant, Hadi Sirika.
The compact disc was marked as Exhibit 37, and the prosecution subsequently applied for the audio recording to be played in open court during the next adjourned hearing.
Proceedings Adjourned
The matter was thereafter adjourned to a later date for the continuation of trial and further presentation of evidence, including the planned playback of the voice note contained in Exhibit 37.
