The testimony came from the 12th prosecution witness, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), who appeared before Justice S.C. Oriji.
According to the EFCC, the aircraft, painted in Nigeria Air colours, arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on May 27, 2023, just three days before the Buhari administration left office. The aircraft was subsequently flown back to Addis Ababa on May 29, 2023, the day power was transferred to a new government.
The anti-graft agency stated that Sirika is being prosecuted on an amended six-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office and the diversion of public funds exceeding ₦2 billion. He is standing trial alongside his daughter, Fatima Hadi Sirika, his son-in-law, Hamma Jalal Sule, and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited.
The EFCC further alleged that the contract for establishing Nigeria Air was awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited, a company owned by Gabriel Tilmann, described as a close associate of the former minister.
While reading portions of an agreement involving Ethiopian Airlines, the witness told the court: “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 the 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.”
The witness said investigations revealed that the arrangement was timed to coincide with the final days of Sirika’s tenure as Aviation Minister and was intended to create the impression that the long-promised national carrier had become a reality.
He told the court that after less than 72 hours on display in Abuja, the Nigeria Air branding was removed and the aircraft was returned to Ethiopian Airlines in Addis Ababa.
According to the witness, investigators also established that Ethiopian Airlines entered into a charter agreement solely for the temporary display of the Nigeria Air branding between May 27 and May 29, 2023. He said the findings were based on documents and information provided by the airline following a June 12, 2023 response to an EFCC request regarding the Nigeria Air project.
The witness maintained that although the agreement was linked to the establishment of Nigeria Air, the charter arrangement was only executed on May 24, 2023—five days before Sirika left office—and covered only the short-term display of the airline’s logo on the aircraft.
The EFCC said all documents tendered by the prosecution were properly authorised, signed and accompanied by certificates of identification. None of the defence lawyers representing the four defendants objected to their admission as evidence.
Among the exhibits admitted by the court was a compact disc containing a voice note allegedly sent by Sirika. Marked as Exhibit 37, the prosecution requested that the recording be played during the next sitting.
The witness also testified that a contract awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited on April 4, 2022, for the take-off of Nigeria Air at a cost exceeding ₦299 million, was later extended on October 17, 2022, with the value rising to more than ₦599 million.
According to him, “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, showing a voice note sent to the Permanent Secretary while the first defendant was in Spain instructing him to ensure that the contract was awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited.”
Following the witness’s testimony, Justice Oriji adjourned the matter until June 17, 2026, for the continuation of trial proceedings.