Sirika accuses lawmaker who labelled Nigeria Air fraud of demanding 5% share

The immediate past Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika accused m the lawmaker who condemned the launch of Nigeria Air of demanding 5 per cent shares.

The Informant247 reports that the Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation, Nnolim Nnaji, at a public hearing, labelled the launch of Nigeria Air a fraud.

Nnaji also criticised Ethiopian Airlines for the role it played, saying it did not speak well of the existing relationship between the two nations.

He said, “A careful review indicates the exercise to be highly opaque, shrouded in secrecy, shoddy, and capable of ridiculing and tarnishing the image of Nigeria.”

However, speaking on ARISE TV on Sunday, Sirika explained how the lawmaker approached him and made a demand for “him and his people.”

“On the issue of Hon Nnaji who called Nigeria Air launch a fraud, I will say exactly what I told him in private when we spoke.

“Hon Nnaji asked me that I should give him 5% of Nigeria Air to carry him along with his people,” he said.

Sirika recalled telling the committee chairman that a bidding process had taken place, which people had already won.

The ex-official said Nnaji was not specific on the “other people,” adding that such persons could be “his family, (Rep) members, or leadership.”