The
Federal Government has banned the official plane of Rivers State Governor,
Rotimi Amaechi, for “operating illegally in the country.”
Federal Government has banned the official plane of Rivers State Governor,
Rotimi Amaechi, for “operating illegally in the country.”
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency had on Friday
temporarily grounded the Bombardier – BD700 Global Express aircraft in Akure,
Ondo State, over the pilot’s alleged inability to provide the manifest of the
plane.
temporarily grounded the Bombardier – BD700 Global Express aircraft in Akure,
Ondo State, over the pilot’s alleged inability to provide the manifest of the
plane.
However, the aviation industry regulator, Nigeria Civil Aviation
Authority, on Saturday, announced that the aircraft had been banned from flying
in Nigeria.
Authority, on Saturday, announced that the aircraft had been banned from flying
in Nigeria.
The Director of Airworthiness and Standards, NCAA, Mr. Benedict
Adeyileka, alleged that the aircraft had been flying illegally to several places,
including Owerri in Imo State and Akure.
Adeyileka, alleged that the aircraft had been flying illegally to several places,
including Owerri in Imo State and Akure.
The statement read in part, “The controversial aircraft on the
service of Governor Rotimi Amaechi is operating illegally in the
country. The clearance approval of the Bombardier BD700 Global Express, with registration
number N565RS, expired since April 2, 2013.
service of Governor Rotimi Amaechi is operating illegally in the
country. The clearance approval of the Bombardier BD700 Global Express, with registration
number N565RS, expired since April 2, 2013.
“By our records, the last flight clearance for this aircraft was
approved for operations on March 28, 2013 on Accra/Port Harcourt and Accra to
terminate on April 2, 2013. With this development, the aircraft has exceeded
the extra two days or 48 hours leeway for it to leave the country.
approved for operations on March 28, 2013 on Accra/Port Harcourt and Accra to
terminate on April 2, 2013. With this development, the aircraft has exceeded
the extra two days or 48 hours leeway for it to leave the country.
“Consequently, this aircraft in reference is hereby grounded at
any airport that is located right now in the country.
any airport that is located right now in the country.
“The owner of this aircraft, according to the certificate
of registration, is Bank of Utah Trustees of Salt Lake City Utah United States
of America.”
of registration, is Bank of Utah Trustees of Salt Lake City Utah United States
of America.”
Amaechi, in company with the Speaker, House of Representatives,
Aminu Tambuwal, was stranded for two hours at Akure Airport, as NAMA
prevented his jet from flying on Friday.
Aminu Tambuwal, was stranded for two hours at Akure Airport, as NAMA
prevented his jet from flying on Friday.
Amaechi was departing Ado-Ekiti after attending the burial of
Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmi Olayinka, when the incident occurred.
Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmi Olayinka, when the incident occurred.
It was learnt that it took the intervention of Tambuwal before
the aircraft was allowed to take off.
the aircraft was allowed to take off.
NAMA’s spokesperson, Mr. Supo Atobatele, who
confirmed the development on Friday, had said the plane was not cleared to take
off initially because the pilot failed to observe certain mandatory
requirements.
confirmed the development on Friday, had said the plane was not cleared to take
off initially because the pilot failed to observe certain mandatory
requirements.
Following the grounding of the plane, the Rivers State
Government on Saturday, described the defence of the aviation authorities as a
‘big lie.’
Government on Saturday, described the defence of the aviation authorities as a
‘big lie.’
The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. David Iyofor,
said contrary to NAMA’s claims on Friday, the pilot of the plane
had filed his flight plan and declared his manifest, but was told to see
the controller.
said contrary to NAMA’s claims on Friday, the pilot of the plane
had filed his flight plan and declared his manifest, but was told to see
the controller.
The controller, according to Iyofor, told the pilot that the
state government’s plane would not be allowed to leave the airport.
state government’s plane would not be allowed to leave the airport.
“It is indeed most shameful and ludicrous that NAMA and the aviation
authorities are now saying that they grounded the Rivers State government’s
plane because the pilot did not file a flight plan and declare a manifest.
authorities are now saying that they grounded the Rivers State government’s
plane because the pilot did not file a flight plan and declare a manifest.
“That’s a blatant lie. The pilot filed the flight plan and
manifest, and paid all the statutory airport fees and charges shortly after the
plane arrived at the Akure Airport in the afternoon.
manifest, and paid all the statutory airport fees and charges shortly after the
plane arrived at the Akure Airport in the afternoon.
“If the pilot filed a flight plan and manifest at the airports
in Abuja and Owerri, where he flew from same day, why won’t he then do the same
in Akure?
in Abuja and Owerri, where he flew from same day, why won’t he then do the same
in Akure?
“It is instructive to note that all through the traumatic time
we spent in Akure, no official of the airport or aviation staff came to tell
Governor Amaechi that we were grounded because our pilot refused to file a
flight plan and manifest.
we spent in Akure, no official of the airport or aviation staff came to tell
Governor Amaechi that we were grounded because our pilot refused to file a
flight plan and manifest.
“All they kept saying was that they were just obeying
directives; it was beyond them and we should call Abuja. The Speaker, Aminu
Tambuwal, and the other four members of the House of Representatives are living
witnesses to that charade,” Iyofor said.
directives; it was beyond them and we should call Abuja. The Speaker, Aminu
Tambuwal, and the other four members of the House of Representatives are living
witnesses to that charade,” Iyofor said.
He asked NAMA to explain to Nigerians why an aircraft
belonging to a state government and conveying a governor and other elected
officials would be grounded at an airport for no just course.
belonging to a state government and conveying a governor and other elected
officials would be grounded at an airport for no just course.
When asked whether the grounding of the aircraft had anything to
do with the rift between Amaechi and the Presidency, Iyofor declined comments.
do with the rift between Amaechi and the Presidency, Iyofor declined comments.
He said the state government was still weighing the incident and
would soon decide whether or not to petition the appropriate authorities on the
matter.
would soon decide whether or not to petition the appropriate authorities on the
matter.
“What we did is to tell Nigerians what happened. That is why we
came out with a statement. I am not commenting on anything political.
came out with a statement. I am not commenting on anything political.
“We have to digest what happened first before we can decide on
whether it is necessary to write officially to relevant authorities on our
experience in Akure,” Iyofor stressed.
whether it is necessary to write officially to relevant authorities on our
experience in Akure,” Iyofor stressed.
Source: Punch
