A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja that an aircraft linked to Ethiopian Airlines was allegedly used for the public unveiling of the Nigeria Air branding in 2023.
The testimony was given on Wednesday by the 12th prosecution witness, Christopher Odofin, before Justice S.C. Oriji.
The case involves Sirika and three others, who are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged financial misconduct.
Sirika is facing an amended six-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds estimated at over N2 billion.
Others on trial include his daughter, Fatima Hadi Sirika, his son-in-law, Hamma Jalal Sule, and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited.
Odofin told the court that investigations showed an aircraft carrying Nigeria Air livery arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on May 27, 2023, just days before the end of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
He further explained that the aircraft remained in Abuja for a brief static display before departing for Addis Ababa on May 29, 2023.
Reading from documents submitted in court, the witness said the arrangement involved a chartered Ethiopian Airlines aircraft scheduled specifically for the Nigeria Air branding display.
“The aircraft will stay in Abuja airport for static display of Nigeria Air livery until May 28, 2023. The aircraft will leave Abuja airport early morning on May 29, 2023,” the document read in part.
READ ALSO: Sirika: We didn’t pay a dime for using Ethiopia Airlines’ plane to unveil Nigeria Air
Odofin added that the aircraft was operated by Ethiopian Airlines crew and that the display exercise was planned to coincide with the conclusion of Sirika’s tenure as Minister of Aviation.
He also noted that the charter agreement with Ethiopian Airlines was signed on May 24, 2023, just days before the administration ended.
According to him, once the display was completed, the Nigeria Air branding was removed and the aircraft returned to Ethiopia.
He added that investigators obtained supporting documents from Ethiopian Airlines following a response to an EFCC request for information on the Nigeria Air project.
All documents presented by the prosecution were admitted by the court without objection from the defence team.
Among the exhibits accepted was a compact disc containing an audio recording allegedly linked to Sirika.
The prosecution also informed the court that the recording would be played at the next hearing date.