Former Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, has accused the lawmaker who branded the National Carrier as fraud, of demanding five percent shares of Nigeria Air from him.

Recall that the House of Representatives Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation, Nnolim Nnaji, asked the federal government to suspend operation of Nigeria Air and described it as a fraud.  Nnaji Nnolim, chairman of the committee, said this at an investigative hearing with Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) and representatives of ministry of aviation on Tuesday, June 6. Nnaji and other lawmakers said that the Ministry of Aviation’s claim of Nigeria Air being only unveiled and not launched, is an attempt to divert their attention. They expressed their disappointment when told by NAMA that the aircraft bearing Nigerian Air design which arrived the country days ago, was a chartered flight.

However, Sirika was on Arise TV today June 11, where he alleged that Nnaji approached him and  asked for five percent shares of the airline for “him and his people”.

“Hon Nnaji asked me that I should give him 5% of Nigeria Air to carry him along with his people, and I said to him at that time that honourable, you didn’t understand me. This is a bidding process that has taken place. And some people won, So I think he should go to those people and ask for the 5 percent.”

Nnaji is yet to react to this allegation.