The Federal Government Tuesday threatened to drag the Rivers State
Government before any of the nation’s anti-corruption agencies over
allegations that the state administration forged documents to enable its
aircraft operate within the country.
This threat was issued Tuesday by the Minister of Aviation Princess
Stella Oduah when she appeared before the House of Representatives Joint
Committees on Justice and Aviation which held an investigative hearing
on the circumstances surrounding the controversial grounding of a Rivers
State Government owned aircraft last month.
It would be recalled that on April 26th, a Bombardier B700 Global
Express aircraft said to belong to the Rivers State Government which had
conveyed the state Governor Hon. Rotimi Amaechi to Akure Airport was
delayed by NCAA and eventually grounded by the regulatory agency some
days later.
Princess Oduah further stated that Rivers State Government violated
existing civil aviation laws in the country by operating the aircraft
without valid airworthiness or legal certificate adding that the
aircraft was registered in the name of Bank of Utah Trustees of the
United States it secured flight clearances in the name of Caverton
Helicopters on three occasions.
She further stated that even though, the plane bore the Nigerian coat
of arms, there was no evidence before the aviation regulatory agencies
that it belonged to the Rivers State Government.
According to her the state government could be charged for “Using the
name of Caverton Helicopters for flight clearance severally on 4th-6th
January 2013; 23rd-27th January 2013 and 28th March-2nd April, 2013,
which Caverton Helicopters rebutted, thus violating section 1.2..5 (a)
(I)(2) of the NCAA Regulations on general policies, procedures and
definitions and Section 1.14 of 2009, on falsification, reproduction or
alteration of applications, licences, certificates, logbooks, reports or
records.”
She further stated that on April 26, 2013, the pilot of the aircraft
failed to submit a flight plan contrary to the nation’s aviation laws.
The Minister further disclosed that the Pilot of the aircraft knew he
violated the law and had since apologised to her through a text
message.
The minister’s position was supported by the Acting Director-General
of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Mr. J. D. Nkemakolam and
other parastatals under the ministry.
However, in his own presentation before the Committee, the Secretary
to the Rivers State Government George Feyii said no prior notice was
served on the State Government before the aircraft was grounded adding
that the plane was insured in the name of the State Government. He
explained that the aircraft was registered through Bank of Utah which
was appointed as Trustee for the aircraft.
He further said that the state government had last year applied to
the Ministry of Aviation for permission to import an aircraft. He
further stated that the aircraft had a certificate of airworthiness
always kept within the plane.
But the Chairman of the Joint House Committee Hon. Ali
Ahmed(PDP-Kwara) reminded the Minister that a letter written to the
Director, Airworthiness Standards, NCAA, by ACASS of Canada Limited, a
company with expertise in taking delivery of aircraft for clients had
informed NCAA that they “assisted the government of Rivers State of
Nigeria with taking delivery and possession of their Aircraft “.
Members of the Committee, notably Hon. Nkoyo Toyo(PDP-Cross River),
were angry that contrary to an earlier statement by a Manager of
Caverton Helicopters, Mr. Sola Falola that “they did not have anything
to do with the importation of the aircraft” for the government of Rivers
State, the same caverton admitted in another submission before the
committee that the importation was done and that the aircraft in
question belongs to the Rivers State Government.
SOURCE: VANGUARD
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