A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Aviation Minister, Hadi Abubakar Sirika, on Wednesday told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja that an aircraft belonging to Ethiopian Airlines was allegedly presented as Nigeria Air in a planned display shortly before the end of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The witness, Christopher Odofin, the 12th prosecution witness and an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), made the disclosure before Justice S.C. Oriji of the FCT High Court while testifying in the alleged N2 billion fraud case against Sirika and three others.

According to Odofin, the aircraft, bearing the Nigeria Air livery, arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on May 27, 2023, and remained on static display until May 29, 2023, when it was flown back to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Reading from a contract agreement between Ethiopian Airlines and parties involved in the project, the witness told the court that the aircraft was chartered specifically for the display of the Nigeria Air brand. He said the agreement provided that the aircraft would arrive in Abuja on May 27, remain on display until May 28, and depart on the morning of May 29, while being operated by Ethiopian Airlines crew members in their official uniforms.

Odofin further stated that the arrangement also contemplated the use of local models dressed in Nigeria Air uniforms for ceremonial photographs during the event.

The witness alleged that the display was deliberately timed to coincide with the expiration of Sirika’s tenure as Minister of Aviation on May 29, 2023, and was intended to create the impression that the Nigeria Air project had been successfully launched.

He told the court that after the less than 72-hour display period, the Nigeria Air branding was removed from the aircraft before it was returned to Ethiopian Airlines in Addis Ababa.

The witness also disclosed that investigators established that Ethiopian Airlines entered into the charter arrangement for only three days, from May 27 to May 29, 2023. According to him, the findings were based on documents and information supplied by the airline in response to an EFCC request dated June 12, 2023.

He added that although the contract was linked to the establishment of Nigeria Air, the charter agreement was executed on May 24, 2023, just five days before the end of Sirika’s tenure, and was limited to the temporary display of the Nigeria Air logo on the aircraft.

Sirika is facing trial alongside his daughter, Fatima Hadi Sirika, his son-in-law, Hamma Jalal Sule, and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited on an amended six-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds amounting to more than N2 billion.

The prosecution also told the court that the contract for the establishment of Nigeria Air was awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited, a company owned by Gabriel Tilmann.

All documents tendered by the prosecution were admitted without objection from counsel representing the defendants. Among the exhibits admitted was a compact disc containing a voice note allegedly from Sirika, marked as Exhibit 37.

The prosecution subsequently applied for the voice note to be played in open court at the next adjourned hearing.