The trial of former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, continued on Wednesday at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, where a prosecution witness alleged that an aircraft belonging to Ethiopian Airlines was presented as Nigeria Air shortly before the end of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The 12th prosecution witness, Christopher Odofin, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), told the court that documents obtained during investigations showed the aircraft was chartered from Ethiopian Airlines for a three-day static display at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, from May 27 to May 29, 2023. According to the witness, the aircraft arrived in Nigeria bearing the Nigeria Air livery and was flown back to Addis Ababa after the display period ended.

Odofin further told the court that the arrangement was allegedly designed to coincide with the end of Sirika’s tenure as Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development and create the impression that the Nigeria Air project had been successfully launched. He stated that the aircraft remained under the operation of Ethiopian Airlines personnel throughout the exercise and that the Nigeria Air branding was removed after the display before the aircraft returned to Ethiopia.

Sirika is being prosecuted by the EFCC on an amended six-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of more than N2 billion. He is standing trial alongside his daughter, Fatima Hadi Sirika, his son-in-law, Hamma Jalal Sule, and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited. The court also admitted several documents and exhibits tendered by the prosecution, including a compact disc containing an audio recording allegedly linked to the former minister, which is expected to be played during the next hearing.