Former Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, has accused lawmaker Nnolim Nnaji, of labeling the Nigeria air launch a fraud because he declined to give him a bribe.
According to the ex minister, Nnaji who is Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation, had demanded five percent shares of the National Carrier Air from him.
This is coming on the heels of the lawmaker declaring the launch a fraud during the hearing by the House of Representatives.
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He had poked holes in the project, criticizing the Federal Government for what he described as poor handling.
Nnaji said after careful evaluation of the matter, his committee was dissatisfied with the actions of Sirika.
“We are equally irked by the role played by Ethiopian Airlines in this whole process. It does not speak well of the excellent brotherly relationship existing between our two nations. A careful review of the process indicates the exercise to be highly opaque, shrouded in secrecy, shoddy and capable of ridiculing and tarnishing the image of Nigeria before the international community,” he had said.
In an interview seen by Dockaysworld, Sirika accused the lawmaker of seeking bribes.
“On the issue of Hon Nnaji who called Nigeria Air launch a fraud, I will respond now. 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 to carry him along with his people, and I said to him at that time, Honourable, a bidding process that has taken place, and some people won. So, I think you should go to those people and ask for the 5 percent. Let’s be fair, Hon Nnaji didn’t say other members. He said he wants it for himself and his people. His people could his be his family, could be members and it could be leadership. I don’t know, but he insisted on 5%. I said that he should relax and approach the owners. That’s exactly what I told him.
I was a member of the House of Reps 20 years ago, and 10 years ago, I was a Senator. I know the workings of the National Assembly. He [Nnaji] called for public hearing. And right under the public hearing, he just turned the paper and read the riot act. The practice in the National Assembly is that after hearing people and the complain, you now go and sit down as a committee, discuss the issues, raise them, approach the whole house of reps and take position of the house plus leadership and come back and make your findings known, but not immediately you just read the riot Act out. It means is predetermined.”
Watch video below
Watch a part of former Minister of Aviation Senator Hadi Sirika’s including where he accused former Chairman of House Representatives’ Committee on Aviation, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji, of demanding 5% shares of NigeriaAir for him and his people before he could support the Project. pic.twitter.com/P7QrT9gWwr
— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) June 11, 2023
