Fresh revelations emerged at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja as an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness alleged that former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, violated due process in the award of contracts linked to the controversial Nigeria Air project.
The allegations surfaced during the ongoing trial of Sirika and three others over an alleged N2 billion fraud involving the proposed national carrier initiative.
Christopher Odofin, an EFCC investigator and the 12th prosecution witness, told the court that several contracts related to Nigeria Air were awarded in a manner that allegedly circumvented established procurement procedures and conferred undue advantage on favoured entities.
According to the witness, one of the contracts was awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited, a company allegedly linked to Sirika’s associate, Gabriel Tilmann. The contract, initially valued at over N299 million, was later extended to exceed N599 million. The EFCC contends that the extension was carried out on Sirika’s directive.
Odofin testified that investigators analysed communications extracted from the mobile phone of a former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Aviation, Enitan Abel. The analysis allegedly uncovered a voice note purportedly sent by Sirika from Spain directing that the contract be awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited. The prosecution maintains that the communication points to interference in procurement processes.
The witness further informed the court that the EFCC’s investigation revealed that the highly publicised unveiling of Nigeria Air in May 2023 was allegedly a temporary arrangement involving an aircraft chartered from Ethiopian Airlines solely for a static display in Abuja. The aircraft, bearing Nigeria Air livery, arrived on May 27, 2023, remained on display for less than 72 hours, and was flown back to Addis Ababa on May 29 after the branding was removed.
Reading from documents obtained from Ethiopian Airlines, the witness stated that the charter agreement expressly provided for a temporary exhibition, with Ethiopian Airlines crew operating the flight while local models dressed in Nigeria Air uniforms were to participate in ceremonial photographs. The EFCC alleges that the arrangement was designed to create the impression that the national carrier had become operational before the end of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The anti-graft agency is prosecuting Sirika alongside his daughter, Fatima Sirika, his son-in-law, Hamma Jalal Sule, and their company, Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, on an amended six-count charge bordering on abuse of office, contract fraud, and misappropriation of public funds exceeding N2 billion. The defendants have all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecution tendered several documentary exhibits before Justice Sylvanus Oriji, including correspondence from Ethiopian Airlines and a compact disc containing an alleged voice note linked to the former minister. The court admitted the exhibits without objection from the defence, while the prosecution indicated that the audio recording would be played during subsequent proceedings.
The case has reignited public debate over the Nigeria Air project, which had faced criticism from aviation stakeholders and local airline operators over transparency, ownership structure, and regulatory compliance even before its controversial unveiling in 2023. The project had proposed Ethiopian Airlines as a core investor with a 49 per cent stake, a move that drew resistance from domestic operators.
Justice Oriji adjourned the matter for continuation of trial as the EFCC seeks to establish whether procurement rules were breached and public funds improperly utilised in the execution of the Nigeria Air initiative.