Does it not make sense for at least some agency in Nigeria be doing something to at least bring some sense of decency to an already chaotic country? The argument that EFCC should have nothing to do with tax evasion/avoidance is not as important as which agency is ready to do it anyway? I mean is it true that this company is breaking the rules? But that does not appear important to some posters as much as "oh, is this what EFCC is meant to be doing?" I'm sure if someone kills one of your family members and the nigerian Police does nothing (as usual) but some agency, even a foreign one like Scotland yard steps in to help (an unlikely scenario), you wouldn't be arguing about the legitimacy of that help you are getting, would you? Pls guys wake up and be aware that this country needs all the help we can get to start moving in the right direction. The problem is most Nigerians are not invested in their country, maybe only in word of mouth. Thank you.

@Dale1 Also seconded!!! very incisive.

Dale1:

Does it not make sense for at least some agency in Nigeria be doing something to at least bring some sense of decency to an already chaotic country? The argument that EFCC should have nothing to do with tax evasion/avoidance is not as important as which agency is ready to do it anyway? I mean is it true that this company is breaking the rules? But that does not appear important to some posters as much as "oh, is this what EFCC is meant to be doing?" I'm sure if someone kills one of your family members and the nigerian Police does nothing (as usual) but some agency, even a foreign one like Scotland yard steps in to help (an unlikely scenario), you wouldn't be arguing about the legitimacy of that help you are getting, would you? Pls guys wake up and be aware that this country needs all the help we can get to start moving in the right direction. The problem is most Nigerians are not invested in their country, maybe only in word of mouth. Thank you.

SPOT ON!!!!

Best comment so far . . . .IMO

Since EFCC has deviated from their work of fighting financial crimes, pls let them quickly come street and arret this couple, who hav being figthing and disturbing the neighbourhood, LOL

Since EFCC has deviated from their work of fighting financial crimes, pls let them quickly come to our street and arret this couple, who hav being figthing and disturbing the neighbourhood, LOL

As long as the likes of Babangida and Obasanjo are still free, I don't trust that body called EFCC.

E=EVERY
F=Freak
C=Can
C=Con.

Arik air's planes are lovely / watch them glisten as the nose looks up at the sun / lifting off the runway

There goes anoda comedy[color=][/color] [color=][/color]

Those of us who are criticizing the EFCC on this issue, I don't  know what you will do if you work for EFCC and you saw an allegation of 4.6 billion money transfer/launding, you invited the officials of the company involved for an explanation severally over 3 weeks and none of them showed up without even an excuse. I see a greater problem in nigeria if you cannot do similar things to what the team did. (Remember that the 3 billion recovered were responses from some law abiding companies, why should Arik be different?)

Besides, money laundring and tax evasion is still part of Economic and Financial Crimes. What we need from EFCC is to be consistent, thorough and not to spare a group of politicians people as they do their work.

more 2 go

[size=14pt]This incidence has the signature of Wale Babalakin of Bi Courtney written all over it,at least the honorary adviser to Yara dull,who has been winning ridiculous concessions from Yara weak's government is just trying to keep Arik busy running up and down so they'll be distracted from their quarrel and objection to the FGs concessioning of the general aviation terminal (GAT) to bicourtney

From the benefit of hindsight,I dare say,the matta just dey start,more pebbles are sure to be thrown in Ariks way till they back off Wale's back[/size]

nigeria is fast turning into a ZOO

Ssssttteeeeeewww! Tax problems. I thought the guy was about to go on a kamikaze mission to Aso rock.

@ rasputinn

I supsect you might be right - inviting the chairman or MD should not lead to the arrest of the chief pilot - he doesn't have any financial responsibility for making transfers or filing tax returns. If anything the company secretary or finance head should've been arrested.

Interesting to note that when Arik started threatening Babalakin's takeover is the exact moment the alleged 'laundering' became noticed.

Directionless EFCC has become a waste of time and resources.

rasputinn:

[size=14pt]This incidence has the signature of Wale Babalakin of Bi Courtney written all over it,at least the honorary adviser to Yara dull,who has been winning ridiculous concessions from Yara weak's government is just trying to keep Arik busy running up and down so they'll be distracted from their quarrel and objection to the FGs concessioning of the general aviation terminal (GAT) to bicourtney

From the benefit of hindsight,I dare say,the matta just dey start,more pebbles are sure to be thrown in Ariks way till they back off Wale's back[/size]

Yap all you want. Person wey get case make e go answer chikena. We are at that point in our nations history where we must be not concerned about weda one person na small thief relative to the next but what is right and honourable. If Arik hands are clean let them go to equity and stop this ''dem dey persecute me because I no gree wetin dem talk attitude'' Afterall who no no say Sir Johnson Ararume( Airk Air & Rockson Engineering) and Odili connived to rip off Rivers state while pretending to be building Gas turbines fo the state. People MUST rise above ethnic sentiments and face head-on our problems. This is not a time of catch-dis-one first! Arik over to una.

Dale1:

Does it not make sense for at least some agency in Nigeria be doing something to at least bring some sense of decency to an already chaotic country? The argument that EFCC should have nothing to do with tax evasion/avoidance is not as important as which agency is ready to do it anyway? I mean is it true that this company is breaking the rules? But that does not appear important to some posters as much as "oh, is this what EFCC is meant to be doing?" I'm sure if someone kills one of your family members and the nigerian Police does nothing (as usual) but some agency, even a foreign one like Scotland yard steps in to help (an unlikely scenario), you wouldn't be arguing about the legitimacy of that help you are getting, would you? Pls guys wake up and be aware that this country needs all the help we can get to start moving in the right direction. The problem is most Nigerians are not invested in their country, maybe only in word of mouth. Thank you.

No room must be made for the parvenus in our midst. All of dem make our country dis rotten Their sad sorry lot must be hounded till they realise that the country is not only for them and their kin. Imagine IBB preaching decentralisation now! after looting from a skewed system that allowed him create local governments from his 50-room palatial mansion. We must RISE people against this lot and celebrate when like the Egyptians in the red sea chaos is thrown into their midst and they fight each other unto rebirth-a cleansing that is long overdue. Lord, long may this continue till all of our stolen wealth is recovered from they and their grand children, everyone of them.


Thanks Dale1. Femilangy u 2.

Nobody is supporting corruption, money laundering, tax evasion, infact whosoever does all theses should be purnish but what we are saying is that EFFC should not be selective or politically motivated or wait till when someone them for his or her own selfish gain. we have so many companies in Nigeria that are guity of this tax issues. why is at this time when airline operator are protesting against some of government decision that EFFC now remember they are not paying tax or Arik airline just start operation last month?

God will save us in this country.

kalabi:

Nobody is supporting corruption, money laundering, tax evasion, infact whosoever does all theses should be purnish but what we are saying is that EFFC should not be selective or politically motivated or wait till when someone them for his or her own selfish gain. we have so many companies in Nigeria that are guity of this tax issues. why is at this time when airline operator are protesting against some of government decision that EFFC now remember they are not paying tax or Arik airline just start operation last month?

God will save us in this country.

Kalabi, there's a sore to be healed, weda na native doctor or a trained surgeon wey bring d healing is irrelevant. EFCC can not and should never have a priority listing to go against people in the society. If your hands are clean it doesn't matter weda dey come after u in the morning or night or whatever time. Keep the skeleton out of your cupboard and when dey are selective or politically motivated like you say den e no go reach you. Please now is not the time to prioritise how to catch a thief, now is the time to move in on whomever dey steal from our commonwealth. enough said.

kalabi:

Nobody is supporting corruption, money laundering, tax evasion, infact whosoever does all theses should be purnish but what we are saying is that EFFC should not be selective or politically motivated or wait till when someone them for his or her own selfish gain. we have so many companies in Nigeria that are guity of this tax issues. why is at this time when airline operator are protesting against some of government decision that EFFC now remember they are not paying tax or Arik airline just start operation last month?

God will save us in this country.

Kalabi, think about this: There will be no cry of selective nor political witch-hunt if those whose hands are currently found in the till kept them away. Please let's not be seen to hold brief for the corrupt punished or otherwise. If ya own never come reach u now, e go reach u soemtime. Na twele twele the wheel of justice maybe delayed but it will surely come full cycle. Arik may just unhinged Ararume and the canker worm from there who knows, like I said, make we dey twele twele and help whenever we can to reduce significantly our country's mess from spiraling further.

EFCC will keep arresting, I wonder when this all this will stop?

rasputinn:

[size=14pt]This incidence has the signature of Wale Babalakin of Bi Courtney written all over it,at least the honorary adviser to Yara dull,who has been winning ridiculous concessions from Yara weak's government is just trying to keep Arik busy running up and down so they'll be distracted from their quarrel and objection to the FGs concessioning of the general aviation terminal (GAT) to bicourtney

From the benefit of hindsight,I dare say,the matta just dey start,more pebbles are sure to be thrown in Ariks way till they back off Wale's back[/size]

debosky:

@ rasputinn

I supsect you might be right - inviting the chairman or MD should not lead to the arrest of the chief pilot - he doesn't have any financial responsibility for making transfers or filing tax returns. If anything the company secretary or finance head should've been arrested.

Interesting to note that when Arik started threatening Babalakin's takeover is the exact moment the alleged 'laundering' became noticed.

Directionless EFCC has become a waste of time and resources.

Just stumbled across this thread. . .


Arik Air?. . . . I laugh in Kimbundu. . .


Arik Air is built on Rivers State money. Mr Johnson Ikhide Arumemi is the biggest thief we have in Rivers State next to Odili. Ribadu almost locked both him and Odili up if not for intervention of "higher powers".


The current MD of ArikAir, Michael Arumemi was an acquaintance of mine growing up.

His junior brother Martin was my classmate at Christ College PH.

Growing up, they had money, but the amount of money they stole in Odili era is unforgivable.

Now they divest looted funds into Airlines and Rockson engineering, thinking they can clean their money.

It is poignant to note that Rockson Engineering had the second highest non-performing loan (N36bn) when CBN produced their list of debtors.

I can list many instances where peops in Rivers State have been jerked by Mr Arumemi (including my pops) but lemme keep quiet to keep my identity. I still cross paths with certain folks every now and then.

EFCC should press full steam ahead with investigations into the Arumemi's business dealings. There is nothing legitimate about any of their dealings.

Arik Air Held Passengers Hostage

January 5, 2011
LucieA

I was shocked this afternoon at the sight I witnessed at the boarding gate for an Arik Air flight from Lagos, Nigeria. A very large group of exhausted, irritated, unkempt looking international passengers were trying to get information about their flight. They looked like they hadn’t slept in days. I was catching another flight at a different gate but I had to stop and ask them what had happened.

One tired gentleman told me that they had been at the airport since 9pm the night before, in order to catch their flight to South Africa at 11pm. However, when they came to the boarding gate, they were not allowed to enter the plane. They were not sure what the cause of the problem was and were not given any information by Arik staff. They were simply told not to leave the boarding gate area. So they sat down thinking the delay would last an hour or two and they would be on their way home. The hours dragged by.

Arik Air did not provide them with any answers, nor did they offer them hotel vouchers so they could wait comfortably for the next available flight, nor did they find them accommodation at the airport, nor did they provide meals for them or even snacks or drinking water. There is no toilet in the boarding gate area so there was no place for them to even go to the restroom or freshen up. They were not even given access to the lounge area so that they could rest. Only a few of them could find seats, the rest were sitting in their business suits on the floor.

This is how over 200 international passengers were held against their will without information, without assistance, without even food or water for more than 15 hours! It should also be noted that these TWO HUNDRED PASSENGERS were international passengers, meaning they were in a foreign country so there was no option to go back to their homes and wait for their flight information. They had no home there and had been prevented from going home for reasons unknown to them.

It is required of every airline to provide current, up to date information to their passengers. When there is a delay that is not due to the fault of the passenger, arrangements are to be made such as hotel vouchers, meal tickets, beverages and especially access to complete bathrooms!!! These passengers are human beings – not cattle! Yet they were treated without due respect.

This is not the first time Arik Air has behaved in a criminal matter. Many friends and associates have recounted stories of abuse at the hands of Arik Air. One business partner had his wallet taken from his seat pocket while he slept and $2,000 removed from it by an Arik staffer. He was the lone passenger in his row with an empty row both in front of him and behind him. The only one that could have bent over him while sleeping and been unnoticed would be the flight staff. A sister company of ours sent a team on retreat and when they arrived at their destination, the luggage for the entire flight had been left behind at the airport and there was no announcement made on board the plane before takeoff. But how can an airline leave all of the luggage on the tarmac and not load it before taking off?? That is incredulous! I believe if an inquiry is made, many more grievances, even worse than these, will be discovered.

While I was discussing with the man, an Arik staff appeared and announced the flight was now running and would be taking the TWO HUNDRED PASSENGERS to their destination. When prodded for the reason for the delay, the staffer reluctantly informed them that the delay was a lack of fuel in the plane!

This is outrageous and completely unacceptable. They have abused their position as an airline and their directors, managers and staff are not fit to run something so sensitive as an airline. We place our lives in the hands of airlines every day, trusting them to carry us safely from one location to another with our lives, our luggage and our decency in tact. Arik Air violates all of these trusts. Serious action should be taken to prevent our citizens from finding themselves trapped and abused at the hands of Arik Air.

Why are these people just plain air-heads

Why did they not just arrest the Chief Financial Officer
or Director of Finance or Someone who hold the money bag,

What has the Chief Pilot got to do with Tax issues,

These guys are really stupid, they need to stop this non-sense
and are not tax-issues up the the courts and when a verdict is giving
does not the courts send the police to execute the order?

What a load of Rubbish!!!

Let them go and arrest Uduaghan, A crook who has been allowed to contest elections again. I just hate this stupid country.