Amidst claims and counterclaims surrounding the suspension of operating licence of a BD Bombardier 700 Aircraft allegedly owned by the Rivers State government, the House of Representatives on Tuesday directed its committee on Justice and Aviation to probe the circumstances surrounding the grounding of the said aircraft. The committee has 14 days to carry out the probe and report back to the house.
While moving the motion, Hon. Ahmed Idris, a member of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) representing Plateau State, said,“ I am concerned that this incident raises serious issues as to the abuse of power by the Executive and the use of state machinery to witch-hunt perceived political opponents which is extremely dangerous and detrimental to any democracy and tends towards dictatorship and draconian tendencies typical of the military era.”
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority at the weekend suspended operating licence of the bombardier –BD700 Global Express with registration no N565 RS. The regulatory agency stated that the aircraft`s clearance approval, which permits it to fly within Nigeria’s airspace had expired since Tuesday, April 2nd 2013 but that operators of the jet continued to operate it illegally.
“The owner of this aircraft according to the certificate of registration is Bank of Utah, trustee of Salt Lake City, Utah USA. The clearance for the aircraft was sought by Cavernton Helicopters on March 27, 2013,” NCAA said.
Revelation of the status vis-a-viz ownership of the aircraft by NCAA on the pages of newspaper has generated rancour between the state government and leadership of the state chapter of PDP, with the later calling for full disclosure within 48 hours.
However, Ibim Semenitari, the Rivers state commissioner of information and communications, said that the Rivers State Government was flabbergasted to read about matters of administrative procedure and allegations of illegality and abuse of process in the media. She stated that all of “the information and queries about this aircraft have only been through the mass media. The Rivers State Government has 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.”
According to her, 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,” she said.
“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. Aircraft was being operated through a local operator, Caverton Helicopters, pending approval of importation licence by Minister of Aviation. Request for this license 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.”
Semenitari affirmed that the Rivers State government is a responsible sub national and guardian of the resources of its people, and it will at all times and in all circumstances act within the confines of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Full text of her statement reads:
PRESS RELEASE ON THE RIVERS STATE GOVERNMENT BOMBARDIER BD 700 GLOBAL EXPRESS JET
The Rivers State Government has noticed with dismay a series of statements attributed to officials of different agencies in the aviation sector on the status of the aircraft belonging to the Rivers State Government, a Bombardier BD 700 Global Express jet.
It is pertinent to note that all of the information and queries about this aircraft have only been through the mass media. The Rivers State Government has 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.
The Rivers State Government is surprised to read about matters of administrative procedure and allegations of illegality and abuse of process in the media. The Rivers state government wishes to note that this press conference and the various issues raised arose only after the embarrassing incident of a delay of the aircraft and its passengers at Akure on Friday, April 26, 2013.
The Rivers 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:
1)Aircraft N 566 RS arrived Nigeria and has been operating since October 2012.
2)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.
3)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.
4)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,
5)Trust agreement for the purpose of N registration is common in the aviation industry.
6)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.
7)The clearance referred to was PH- Accra- PH and not Accra PH Accra as stated.
8)Aircraft was being operated through a local operator, Caverton Helicopters, pending approval of importation licence by Minister of Aviation.
9)Request for this license 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.
10)The 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.
