Through an intensive investigation and surveillance operation, Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) revealed in court that the country’s former Aviation Minister, Hadi Abubakar Sirika, entered into a secret agreement with Ethiopian Airlines to orchestrate a fake launch ceremony for “Nigeria Air,” a project marred by billions of nairas in embezzlement. The former minister is currently being prosecuted for breach of trust and fraud totaling an estimated 20 billion naira.
During Wednesday’s court proceedings, Christopher Odofin, an EFCC investigator and prosecution witness, testified that the contract the former minister signed with Ethiopian Airlines explicitly stipulated that the leased aircraft would remain in Nigeria for only three days. The aircraft’s stay was calculated to ensure it would depart Nigeria on May 29, 2023—the exact day former President Muhammadu Buhari handed over power to the newly elected President, Bola Tinubu.
The deception becomes even more astonishing as the former minister did not just arrange for the aircraft to fly into Nigeria with its full flight crew; upon its arrival at Abuja Airport, local models were hired to pose for fraudulent promotional photos wearing newly designed Nigeria Air uniforms. The investigator explained to the court that this entire operation was a massive drama staged to create the false impression that the new national carrier had officially commenced operations. However, investigators quickly discovered that the aircraft was the exclusive property of Ethiopian Airlines and had not been acquired for the project.
Following these discoveries, Minister Hadi Sirika, his daughter Fatima Hadi Sirika, his son-in-law Hamma Jalal Sule, and a company named “Al Buraq Global Investment Limited” were taken into custody. The defendants face six severe criminal charges related to the abuse of office and the misappropriation of over 2 billion naira in public funds.
The criminal investigation further revealed that a contract worth 299 million naira was initially awarded to a company named “Tianaero Nigeria Limited” in April 2022 to establish Nigeria Air. However, in October 2022, the contract was inflated to over 599 million naira under the direct orders of the minister. It was established that this inflation occurred because the minister maintained close personal and financial ties with the owners of the company.
Investigator Odofin explained to the court that this corruption network was uncovered by analyzing the mobile phone of Enitan Muyiwa Abel, who served as the permanent secretary of the ministry. The forensic analysis of the phone uncovered a voice note sent by the minister while he was away in Spain, explicitly instructing the permanent secretary to ensure the contract was awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited without any preconditions. This audio evidence clearly demonstrates how the minister abused his authority to divert government funds to his associates and allies. The case is currently ongoing in the Nigerian High Court.
