Investigative journalist David Hundeyin has released evidence showing that the ‘Nigeria Air’ aircraft unveiled by the immediate past Minister of Aviation, Hadi Abubakar Sirika, was a money laundering scheme.
Taking to Twitter on Friday, Hundeyin shared a document showing that Sirika was still at the first stage out of the 5 stages required in obtaining the airline’s Air Operator Certificates (AOC) by the time he left office.
According to the journalist, Nigeria Air never existed, adding that the 85billion naira allotted to the project has disappeared and only Sirika can say where it is.
He tweeted: “Buhari’s aviation minister @hadisirika gave Nigeria the impression that he put together something called “Nigeria Air.”
“Tonight I can exclusively reveal that he was still at Stage 1 of 5 in obtaining the airline’s Air Operator Certificates (AOC) by the time he left office.
“Nigeria Air” never existed. An airline without an AOC is like a bank without a CBN licence. Completely hypothetical. N85 billion naira just went up in smoke, and only @hadisirika can say where.
“Bonus tip: The fictitious airline’s supposed Boeing 737 with the registration identifier ET-APL continued its regular Addis – Mogadishu service for its actual owner @flyethiopian today.”
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Nigerians on Twitter have reacted to the exclusive report shared by Hundeyin with many criticizing Buhari administration for turning a blind eye to the money laundering scheme.
A tweep @EmperorKaash said: “Buhari and his cohorts drained this country… Such a cold, dirty, corrupt, heartless and evil man. Yet he wanted people to believe he was fighting corruption. It’s the audacity for me ! Posterity will never be kind to that man.”
Francis Ojemu, in his comment, wrote: “Put this kind of story in a Northern social media group and see how they will insult the shege out of you and call you bad belle, enemy of progress and finally the story will be deleted. I have seen it first hand.”
“That people in Nigerian gov’t get away with such blatant scam tells you all you need to know about how finished the Nigerian institutions are. The sorry tale of a nation ☹️,” @PEC_Concepts reacted just as @ubig1 queried why Sirika would be exempted from the last minute stealing spree the administration embarked on.
In his own words: “When everybody in Buhari’s administration was embarking on last minute stealing spree before May 29, why should Sirika be left out?
“He had to arrange something ASAP. You won’t see Buhari nor Tinubu complain because they know it was part of his severance package.”
@Qriscero said it is unfair to leave the heavy lifting to David Hundeyin if we want the country to work in our lifetime.
“Honestly don’t think it is patriotic or even fair for those of us who hope for a Nigeria that works in our lifetime to keep leaving the heavy-lifting for @DavidHundeyin
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“THIS IS OUR COMMONWEALTH AND WE HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW! I know from my wife’s and my @flyairpeace experience the supreme importance of robustly challenging the status quo once you know you have the truth on your side!
“Can the lawyers in the house coalesce around an FOI request to @FAAN_Officia @NigerianCAA
before filing a lawsuit at the Federal High Court to unravel this Air Nigeria matter? I know from experience that once we start, unanticipated help will come. Exactly the same way @DavidHundeyin is getting better and better tips! My DM is open … for serious minds ONLY!”
Txfunmi tweeted: “Nigeria is a crime scene!” while another tweep said: “It just keeps getting worse: the more you look, the less you see!”
