The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday told a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja that the controversial unveiling of Nigeria Air was allegedly staged using a chartered Ethiopian Airlines aircraft, which was flown into the country, rebranded and presented as the proposed national carrier.
The allegation was made by an EFCC investigator, Christopher Odofin, who testified as the 12th prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, and three others over alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds.
Odofin told the court that the aircraft used for the Nigeria Air unveiling ceremony at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on May 27, 2023, did not belong to the proposed national carrier but was instead chartered from Ethiopian Airlines for the public presentation.
He said the aircraft was flown into Nigeria from Addis Ababa and remained in the country for about three days before being flown back to Ethiopia on May 29, 2023, shortly after the event.
According to him, the aircraft was operated throughout its stay by Ethiopian Airlines crew, even though it was repainted with Nigeria Air livery and presented to the public as part of a fully launched national airline.
The witness alleged that the unveiling was strategically timed to coincide with the end of Sirika’s tenure as Aviation Minister in May 2023, in a bid to create the impression that the national carrier project had taken off.
He further told the court that the EFCC had tendered documents and a voice recording allegedly linked to the former minister as part of its evidence in the case.
The prosecution said the presentation formed part of a broader scheme being investigated by the anti-graft agency in relation to the controversial Nigeria Air project.
The court adjourned the matter to June 17, 2026, for continuation of hearing.
Sirika is standing trial alongside his daughter and two others on charges bordering on abuse of office, contract fraud and alleged mismanagement of public funds connected to the Nigeria Air initiative.
