It's reported in the local press that the directors of Arik Air and the governor of Rivers State, Dr Peter Odili are either under arrest or under investigation by the Economic Fraud and Crimes Commission - wonder what will happen to Odili's AW 139?
he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) earlier today invaded the Rivers State capital, Port Harcourt and arrested the secretary to the state government of Dr. Peter Odili, his finance commissioner, Mr. Kobani and two other commissioners. Saharareporters learnt that other state government officials implicated in our most recent reports of a huge financial scam perpetrated by the Peter Odili's government in Rivers State are currently on the run from the EFCC operatives.
The EFCC also arrested and detained Mr. Arumemi-Johnson, owner of the new start up airline-ARIK Air. Saharareporters could not confirm as at the time of writing this report another story that the EFCC raided the headquarters of Arik Airline in lagos and carted away documents relating to the purchhase of brand new aircrafts by the airline's management. All the Rivers state officials arrested by the EFCC are currently detained in their Awolowo Road Ikoyi office in Lagos.
The Rivers State commissioner of information, Mr. Magnus Abe, issued a terse statement in Port Harcourt acknowledging that some state government officials were arrested by the EFCC, but declined to give their names or state reasons why they were picked up. He only said some of the officials had given statements to the EFCC.
Earlier today, Sahara reporters released a comprehensive report detailing the systematic looting of the Rivers State treasury by Governor Peter Odili and his cronies. We will continue to monitor events as they unfold...and report them to our readers.
Wonder what will happen to all the frantic building work going on at NAF Base now - will it grind to a halt and soon be covered in black mould like so many other unfulfilled projects in Nigeria, or will Odili and Arumemi-Johnson emerge, Phoenix-like? In this country, it's anybody's guess. Things change so quickly, that it's just as likely that Caverton will expand from where they're building a hangar (for their 350B@?), take over all Arik operations and then suffer a spectacular collapse after the (probably-failed) Presidential elections next year.
Don'cha just love Nigeria
