The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has revealed that a former aviation minister, Hadi Abubakar Sirika, standing trial for the alleged N20 billion Nigeria Air fraud, signed an agreement with Ethiopian Airlines to use one of its aircraft as a pass-off for only three days.
The project’s shady nature was uncovered after investigators found that the aircraft was the property of Ethiopian Airlines.
This led to the subsequent arrest of Mr Sirika alongside his daughter, Fatima Hadi Sirika, son-in-law, Hamma Jalal Sule, and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, who were all charged with six counts of alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds totalling over N2 billion.
During a hearing on Wednesday, an EFCC witness, Christopher Odofin, who is also an investigator of the anti-graft agency, testified that the contract Mr Sirika signed with Ethiopian Airlines was for the aircraft to be stationed in Nigeria for three days and depart on May 29, 2023, the day Mr Buhari handed over to President Bola Tinubu.
Mr Odofin stated that the former minister also arranged with Ethiopian Airlines for their crew to fly the plane into Nigeria, where hired local models would pose for fake photos wearing Nigeria Air uniforms.
Additionally, Mr Odofin told the court that the initial project to establish Nigeria Air was a N299 million contract awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited on April 4, 2022, but it was further extended to a sum exceeding N599 million on October 17, 2022, on the order of Mr Sirika due to his alleged close ties to the company.
“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,” Mr Odofin explained.