The EFCC (Economic Fraud and Crimes Commission) paid a visit to the offices of ARIK Air in Lagos on Tuesday, saying that they were investigating the ownership structure and sources of finance for the new airline, Chairman Sir J I Arumemi-Johnson.
They also raided the offices of the Rivers State Government, Governor Dr, Sir Peter Odili in Port Harcourt investigating the N2 billion (US$15.5 million) paid to Rockson Engineering 6 months after it was inaugurated, and on May 16 2000 it floated an airline. The Chairman of Rockson Engineering is Sir J I Arumemi-Johnson.
The newly commissioned N50 billion Omoku gas turbine project in Rivers State has come under the searchlight of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which has invited some officials of the state government and Rockson Engineering, the firm that constructed the project, for questioning. The project was commissioned only on Tuesday by President Olusegun Obasanjo.
At the Port Harcourt NAF Base, the NAF have said that they will not allow aircraft as large as Boeing 737 to land (despite the runway being long enough for them to operate from). Strangely, the State Governor operates his Embraer jet and Dash 8 from there and Arik Air are building a passenger from which they plan to start operating Canadair CRJ 900s this month.
So, can anyone see any kind of a link between the above news items?
But it's okay, I'm sure it's all also well under the control of the Nigerian Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani Kayode. Wonder what he's going to say now that the SSS have revealed that the 'explosives' found on the Bellview flight were just fireworks, despite his recent statement
He also said there is no iota of truth in rumours that the explosive billed for the Bellview flight were fire crackers, challenging anybody who claims that to prove it.
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There are even rumours that Nigeria passed its recent ICAO safety audit - I guess we're all in safe hands then in a country with no corruption, a totally professional Minister of Aviation (okay, admittedly, the Ministers of Aviation in most countries are just government-appointed plonkers), and with a sound aviation sector whose accounting policies are totally transparent.
A top presidency source who pleaded anonymity, told Nigerian newspaper, Saturday Tribune that since Nigerian officials have not been enjoying diplomatic immunity in specific countries across Europe, none of those countries will now enjoy the privilege in Nigeria. Against this background, the Federal Government has also withdrawn the privilege of multiple destinations for foreign airlines, an indication that none of them will be allowed to ply any routes apart from the one officially approved for them. In view of this development, the Federal Government has ordered the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) to immediately initiate moves aimed at recovering a total sum of $500 million allegedly owed Nigeria by foreign airlines. Apparently only Virgin Atlantic and Air India have registered to operate here. The aviation minister last Friday, walked out on the German Ambassador on account of what he described as the envoy’s rudeness in his approach to him during their meeting in Abuja. Looks as if he's making a whole set of new friends to go with his new job then!
