₦airaland Forum

Grounded aircraft: Reps condemn action; say it’s witch-hunt of political opponents

The House of Representatives, yesterday, condemned the grounding of an aircraft, a Bombardier BD 700 Global Express jet, belonging to the Rivers State Government by the National Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, describing it as “witch-hunt” of “perceived political opponents”.

This was as the Rivers State Government expressed dismay over allegations of illegality and abuse of process by officials of different agencies in the aviation sector on the status of the aircraft.

The House of Representatives which condemned the grounding of the aircraft following a motion sponsored by Ahmed Idris, representing Wase federal constituency in Plateau State, said the incident “raises serious issues as to the abuse of powers by the executive and the use of state machinery to with-hunt perceived political opponents”.



Leading the motion under matters of urgent national importance, Idris, who is also the chairman of the House Committee on Federal Character, said the action of the agency smacked of “impunity, lawlessness and political vendetta”.

The Speaker Aminu Tambuwal who criticised the executive arm for the action, described it as “detrimental to any democracy and tends towards dictatorship and draconian tendencies typical of the military era.”

He, therefore, mandated the House committees on Justice and Aviation to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident

Action dictatorial, smack of impunity, lawlessness and political vendetta — Reps

Adopting the motion, the House directed the two committees to “investigate the justification and circumstances surrounding the grounding of the Rivers State aircraft and report back to the House within two weeks”.

The BD 700 Global Express aircraft which was conveying Governor Rotimi Amaechi and Aminu Tambuwal was last week grounded by NAMA for what the agency called non-compliance with the aviation regulations as regards maintenance of aircraft.

Full story of our aircraft — Rivers State govt

Meanwhile, Rivers State Government, yesterday, expressed dismay at the statement attributed to officials of different agencies in the aviation sector on the status of the aircraft, insisting that the said aircraft was owned by the state government.

The state Commissioner of Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari said, “It is pertinent to note that all of the information and queries about this aircraft have only been through the media.

Rivers State Government had not received any communication from the Ministry of Aviation or any of its agencies querying the status of its aircraft even up till this moment.

“ Rivers State Government is surprised to read about matters of administrative procedure and allegations of illegality and abuse of process in the media. The state government wishes to note that this press briefing and the various issues raised arose only after the embarrassing incident of a delay of the aircraft and its passengers at Akure on April 26, 2013

“The state government wishes to note also that the issues raised in this press briefing will be the third reason adduced for the delay of the Rivers State Government’s aircraft in Akure.

However, for purposes of clarification and in keeping with its policy of rendering “transparent and accountable stewardship” to Rivers people, we would wish to state the following for the avoidance of doubt, that the Aircraft N 566 RS arrived Nigeria and has been operating since October 2012.

It was bought by Rivers State Government and registered as a US Aircraft in the first instance, to preserve value and provide ease of operation and sourcing of available pilots.

“To qualify for N registration, operator must be a US citizen hence RVSG entered into a trust with Bank of Utah Inc, a bank that specialises in aircraft trust.

The relationship between the state government and Bank of Utah is that of a trustor and trustee. All N registered Aircrafts enjoy the privileges of a US citizen. Trust agreement for the purpose of N registration is common in the aviation industry.

“It is important to state that there are other aircraft owners in Nigeria with N registered aircraft. This practice is because of the ease of movement that N registered aircraft are privileged to enjoy.

We do not therefore understand why Rivers State Government has been singled out. The clearance referred to was PH-Accra- PH and not Accra-PH-Accra as stated. The aircraft was being operated through a local operator, Caverton Helicopters, pending approval of importation licence by Minister of Aviation.

“Request for this licence was filed by the operator on behalf of the Rivers State government and this was expressly stated in the request filed on August 27, 2012 and received in the Minister’s office on September 4,2012.

Rivers State Government is a responsible sub national and guardian of the resources of its people. It will at all times and in all circumstances act within the confines of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/04/grounded-aircraft-reps-condemn-action-say-its-witch-hunt-of-political-opponents/

This Psy and his record breaking videos!

But still wondering why the single hit video, gentleman, has to be banned by his country's largest television just because they see the song abusing public property!

Well, he is lucky. Abdukaseem Idris's song (nigeria jaga jaga) that yabbed nigerian government was banned from public play and the singer almost banned from life.

Was thinking there would have been rap lyrics here!

olawalebabs: done

ori e pe!
Mo gba fun e,
iwo loga,
laarin egbe e.

I very love the cake. The person that made it is a genius!

They could have made another cake that looks like the groom and start giving those that attended the ceremony the bride and groom cakes so that the both cakes can make the honey moon in them just like the real couple.

The guy is many miles away from the false and an inch close to the truth.
Only the beat separates Dbanj's music from the fuji music but i don't really agree with him on that of davido

These fulani people self!
Just dey kill and molest everywhere.

They have nothing like forgiving spirit in their mind. I have already known that their strike is going to be bad when they ignored the peace meeting over the weekend.

The frustrating thing about them is that they suddenly just appear to perpetrate their evil act and disappear into thin air immediately and they are nomads with no place to locate them.

seedord247: Why talk without adding common sense?

Where you there when he was owing 2face or did 2face come out publicly to say he's owing him mula?

tolexander: So Kenny Ogungbe now know
what it is to be owed money
after early [color=crimson]exploitation[/color] of 2face
and co!
Was even expecting mike tyson
and evander holyfield kind of
picture of the two guys in the
news.

where did i mention 2face being owed by Kenny?

Well! I don't need answering you since your cerebrum is located in between your radius and ulna!

Hmm!
And some people will be blaming obasanjo for witchhunting those opposing his 3rd term agenda.

GEJ's own is even getting worse than Obasanjo. Remember what they did to Obiageli Ezekwizili.

Maina and the guys indicted in the fuel subsidy scandals are still there!

SlyIg: Picture of a nairalander with her poppy!

na lie, na picture of a lady with a nairalander!

@topic, guess the guy in hat with nigerian flag is the nairalander!

Wonder will never ceased happening!

Witch for Christ wey confess, she was slapped,
Ordinary witch wey confess, nothing do am!

This news can't be true!

To confirm the authenticity, sahara reporter has to publish the news, Ruben Abati has to refute it while Doyin Okupe has to tell us she has gone to attend to her ailing mother in hospital oversea.

So Kenny Ogungbe now knows what it is to be owed money after early exploitation of 2face and co!

Was even expecting mike tyson and evander holyfield kind of picture of the two guys in the news.

This our naira seems to be an monetary microscope!
Just magnifying issues and making things appear more than they are!

Just $1,077,630 (not even up to $1.1million dollars)? this isn't too much for the person one loves considering her wealth.

And some people will still swallow his silly manifestoes to vote for him not asking and considering what impact he had when he was a minister!

Seems the trend now is lobby for any political appointment, then come back to flag a gubernatorial or senatorial campaign.

Iron hand vs plastic teeth!

This kind of lady shouldn't be jailed but be drafted to torturing department of the police force!

Ati iju wa ba ilu je bi imodo!

The guy must be smart cos i wonder why a man would have and execute the plan of pickpocketing from the governor on his inauguration.

45years is too much now, better giving him a life sentence than the 45years
Well, anything can happen like parole, and this modern day amnesty.

Moreover, why does he have to dupe Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland with the Governor's phone no if not that there is a hidden motive behind it.

Dedetwo: You should have been a fisherman instead of moniker maker. If you have two handles,they should be Tolexander and what?

grandpa just leave my other moniker.
Don't worry, when i join you in that dungeon, you will see it. But unfortunately, i can't join you cos you seem to be . . . .

Thank you for the question!

20microhours per day and they keep on telling us they are still repairing the light.
Sometimes, the tick sound of the stabilizer makes us to be awared that we've got light for the day!

So 2face's children now celebrate birthday nearly every month now!
Wondering how he will be remembering each child's date of birth!

Ogboju Ode Inu Igbo Irunmole(The brave hunter in the forest of the deities) by D.F Fagunwa

Shey na country's position for FIFA ranking na e dem take dey rate them?