By Chris Agabi
The former Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika has accused Hon. Nnorli Nnaji, the immediate past House of Representatives Committee Chairman on Aviation to have demanded 5 percent equity in the Nigeria Air as bribe to support the project.
The Minister made the claim on a live interview on Arise TV
Recall Hon. Nnaji who spoke at an investigative hearing by the House of Representatives on the Nigeria Air said the purported “launch” of Nigeria Air is a fraud and called for prosecution of the ministry officials involved in Nigeria Air. He also called for the discontinuation of works leading to Nigeria Air launch.
Hadi Sirika said the ex-law maker said he wanted 5 percent of the stakes in “Nigeria Air for him and his people.”
The Minister said he directed him to the shareholders to the Nigeria Air to buy stakes.
The ex-Minister also said the federal government has released less than N3bn budgetary allocation to Nigerian Air since the inception of the project in 2016.
The Minister spoke on Arise TV news programme monitored by our correspondent in Abuja.
He said the N85bn and other figures being brandished as purportedly spent on Nigeria Air is false and baseless.
He also said the bulk of the money has been spent on consultancies, salaries and administrative costs.
He also said Nigerian Air won’t enjoy even special tax privileges as all the taxes other airlines are exposed to will be the same taxes Nigeria Air will be paying.
The Minister said all the information on Nigeria Air is in the public space and Nigetians can obtain all the information they need.
Details later..