@LankyObserver Thats why as we pursue excellence in work and business. It matters to have strong familial ties and enriching friendships.. not surface level ones.
@SentimentalCook This was bad. I am of the belief that the theft is still happening. Just that we have smart businessmen doing it now. Hence the weirdly large illegal outflows we are seeing in the F.I.C reports . Thats just my conspiracy theory.
Alleged N2b Nigeria Air Fraud: How Sirika Allegedly Used Ethiopian Airlines as Fake Nigeria Air-Witness
The 12th Prosecution Witness, PW12, Christopher Odofin, in the trial of the former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Abubakar Sirika, on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, told Justice S.C. Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court Abuja, how Sirika allegedly passed off an aircraft belonging to Ethiopian Airline as that of the promised Nigeria Air by the government of the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
The decoy aircraft, adorned with the livery of the promised Nigeria Air, found its way on the tarmac of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on May 27, 2023, being three days to the expiration of the tenure of the Buhari government and was flown back to Addis Ababa in the morning of May 29, 2023, being the handover date to the successor government.
Hadi Sirika is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on amended six-count, bordering on alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of over N2 billion, alongside his daughter, Fatima Hadi Sirika, son-in-law, Hamma Jalal Sule, and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited.
The contract for the setting up of Nigeria Air was awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited, belonging to Gabriel Tilmann, a close associate and friend of the former minister.
Reading from a portion of contract agreement with Ethiopian Airline, the witness, an investigator with Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC said “The aircraft will depart from Addis Ababa (ADD) late evening of May 26, 2023 for it to be positioned early morning of May 27, 2023 at the Abuja (ABV) airport. The aircraft will stay in ABV airport for static display of Nigeria Air livery until May 28, 2023. The aircraft will leave ABV airport early morning on May, 29, 2023. The chartered flight will be operated by the Ethiopian Airline crew in Ethiopian Airline uniform. The Federal Government of Nigeria and Nigeria Air may put together local models who will be in Nigeria Air uniforms to pose for ceremonial pictures. The models may come to Addis Ababa so they may fly with the chartered flight to ABV.”
The witness told the court that the display of the aircraft in Abuja International Airport was deliberately planned to coincide with the end of the first defendant’s tenure as Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development on May 29, 2023 and to pass the aircraft off as the actualization of his promise of the return of Nigeria Air. After the less than 72 hours display of the aircraft, he stated that the Nigeria Air logo was removed from the aircraft and flown back to Ethiopian Airlines in Addis Ababa.
The witness further disclosed that the investigating team was also able to ascertain that Ethiopian Airlines entered into a charter arrangement for the static display of the Nigeria Air livery for a duration of just three days, beginning from May 27 to May 29, 2023 based on information and documents received from the airline following a letter from it, dated June 12, 2023, in response to the EFCC’s request for information regarding Nigeria Air. And that though the purpose of the contract was for the establishment of Nigeria Air, the charter agreement with Ethiopian Airlines was entered on May 24, 2023, five days to the expiration of the defendant’s tenure for just a static display of the Nigeria Air logo on an aircraft.
All the documents tendered in evidence by the prosecution were shown to have been duly signed, authorized, and accompanied by certificates of identification and were not objected to by any of the counsels to the four defendants.
Among the exhibits is a compact disk containing a voice note from the first defendant, Hadi Sirika, marked Exhibit 37, which the prosecution counsel applied to be played in the court at the next adjourned date.
@Nshima_Badger I always say this. People expect that because when dollar climbs from 17 to 21 they will stop buying bread at 15 and go buy at 18 and get told its because of the dollar.. until you can explain it properly the MFs will keep thinking that.
So when his MPs were voting for it under his guidance, because we have seen that voting against what he likes gets you fired (see Gary) he didn't see it wasnt public interest.
So when his MPs were voting for it under his guidance, because we have seen that voting against what he likes gets you fired (see Gary) he didn't see it wasnt public interest.
BREAKING NEWS: HH declines to sign Public Gatherings Bill, says it’s “against public interest”
PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has declined to assent to the public gatherings bill, saying the legislation is undemocratic and against public interest.
The Public Gatherings Bill is among the bills that were passed by the National Assembly in the final days of the last sitting.
According to Parliament sources, President Hichilema sent back the bill on 29th May saying he had reservations to proceed and assent.
The Public Gatherings Bill dictated that a person who intends to hold a public gathering shall, at least five days before the proposed date of a public gathering, notify the police and get clearance for the proceedings.
The Act further described “public gathering” as an assembly, meeting, procession or demonstration of three or more people in a public place.
It also included “public place” to mean any highway, market place, square, road, street, bridge or other way which is lawfully used by the public including a building.
Zambians from all walks of life had expressed concern over the bill, with critics and civil society saying this would be the most disastrous law and worse than the Public Order Act.
More details in tomorrow’s edition…