Minister of aviation and aerospace development, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), has said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is investigating the controversial Nigeria Air deal by the federal government during the tenure of his predecessor, Hadi Sirika.
Keyamo, who featured last night on Channels Television’s “Politics Today”, said, “The EFCC is investigating that deal. There is a criminal investigation going on. I have called for the report.”
He said, “There is a criminal investigation going on. I have called for the report.”
The then interim managing director of Nigeria Air, Captain Dapo Olumide, had said the aircraft used to unveil the country’s national career was a legitimate chartered flight from Ethiopian Airlines.
Olumide said the aircraft was returned to Ethiopian Airlines after the unveiling on the last day of the Muhammadu Buhari administration in May.
He also said no local airline would be designated as a national airline, adding that “we will establish a proper national carrier.”
LEADERSHIP also recalls that shortly after he was sworn in as minister, Keyamo faulted the deal by Sirika and suspended the whole arrangement, which was hurriedly unveiled a few days to the end of the administration of Buhari, to enable proper audit of contracts.
The controversy surrounding the establishment of the Nigeria Air had forced veteran aviator, Girma Wake, to resign as chairman of Ethiopian Airlines.
Nigeria’s Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Aviation had both labelled the launch of the Nigeria Air as a fraud.
The national carrier was unveiled by Sirika just three days before the end of Buhari administration and has been trailed with several controversies.
