Stakeholders in the nation’s aviation industry have called for the prosecution of anyone involved in the alleged illegal sale of two training helicopters bought by the federal government for the Nigerian College of Aviation and Technology (NCAT), Zaria, Kaduna State.
LEADERSHIP had reported yesterday that two helicopters belonging to NCAT were sold at giveaway prices and shipped to the United States of America, and that crucial details of the transaction were shrouded in secrecy.
The choppers, Bell 206L4 BZB and Bell M2061-L4, were bought during the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and were sold to private individuals for less than 5 percent of their original cost.
The aircraft were allegedly dismantled at the executive jet hangar at Lagos airport before being smuggled to Florida, United States of America, where they were sold.
Speaking to LEADERSHIP, the general secretary, Aviation Round Table Initiative (ARTI), Olumide Ohunayo, called for the prosecution of those involved in the alleged sale of the aircraft.
Ohunayo said he was backing a probe by the House of Representatives, adding that the helicopters must either be returned as a whole or the correct amount paid into the government account.
“The sales obviously didn’t go through the due process and maybe during the time of purchase they didn’t do due diligence of what was appropriate for the school. The sales of these helicopters didn’t go through the normal procedure, and the House of Representatives has started probing it. I support the probe and there is a need to dig deeper. It’s either they bring back the aircraft or the funds are returned into the government coffers. It’s sad to see that public officers didn’t see the consequences of their actions while in office, and that’s why they boldly misappropriate public funds.
“They must face consequences of their actions, and not only the minister but agency heads involved; so any agency that was used for such inappropriate act and didn’t object with viable documentary evidence should go along in the team that must be prosecuted,” he said.
On his part, the chief executive officer of Centurion Aviation, Group Capt John Ojikutu (rtd), also said the sale of the choppers should be thoroughly investigated to know how culpable the actors are.
According to him, Nigerians need to know who ordered the sales of the choppers and at what price
“There is a need to know those who did these things. At the beginning, did NCAT request the choppers? Yes, they did. These are the things we should ask. Who in the government approved the sales? The government belongs to us. We have administration and agency, and we have people working on it.
“Somebody bought the aircraft; we need to know who sold it and who ordered the sales.
“I know that NCAT cannot buy anything on its own without appropriation. Appropriation must come from the budget, so why will someone take away what they asked for? That is why we need to find the answer,” Ojikutu stated.
