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B N W: Biafra Nigeria World News |
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Crimes commission begins probe of Airways assets
FOLLOWING the recommendations of the Justice Obiorah Nwazota's panel of inquiry into the past management of the liquidated Nigeria Airways, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday began probe of the airline's assets.
Nwazota's panel was set up by President Olusegun Obasanjo in February 2000 to look into the management of the Airways between 1983 and 1999.
No fewer than four former ministers, former military chiefs, managing directors of the airline, among others, were indicted by the panel which uncovered the $700 million fraud in the airline.
The panel had recommended recovery of the funds and various other penalties against those indicted.
A member of the EFCC task force, who declined giving his name, told journalists in Lagos that the team's visit was on the orders of the Presidency, first to take stock of the airline's assets. He added that the team was to ascertain some allegations levelled against the airline's liquidator, Messr Babington Ashaye, over underestimating assets of the airline.
According to the EFCC official, "we are here on the orders of the Presidency to take stock of the airline's asset. Secondly, we came here because of the various allegations against the liquidator. It was alleged that Nigeria Airways' assets were being undervalued by the liquidator."
The team, he further explained, came in to do a through job and to revalue the airline's assets and property.
He, however, disclosed that the Nwazota panel report would be implemented and executed to the letter, with a view to bringing to book people who brought or helped to bring the airline to its present pitiable condition.
He reasoned that for the fact that the Federal Government had not taken a decisive action yet against the indicted former chiefs should not mean that relief has come their way.
"It is not yet Uhuru for them, as they would soon face the Commission to further explain their levels of involvement which saw to the death of the once pride of Africa", he added.
Following the release of the white paper by government endorsing most of the recommendations, some of the indicted managers curiously went to the Federal High Court, Abuja seeking to stop the implementation of government white paper on the fraud uncovered in Nigeria Airways. But the court struck out the three cases.
Meanwhile, Slok Air, which is still banned by the Federal Government over safety related matters, has become a flag carrier of Gambia.
Just like Bellview Sierra Leone, which is a flag carrier in that country, Slok - Gambia Limited, a reliable aviation source told The Guardian, would begin operations from Banjul next month. With the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) Gambia enjoys, the airline is scheduled to fly into Nigeria and the West coast.
The Lagos station manager of the airline, Mr. Linus Emenike, The Guardian gathered, has been posted to Banjul to head the airline's operation in that country.
A source from the airline explained that it has begun recruitment for the airline's regional operation in Banjul.
The Chairman, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Dr. Steve Mahonwu, who claimed he was aware of the development, said, "what Gambia has gained is Nigeria's loss."
Since the airline was grounded on March 12, 2004 for flouting safety regulations, it is said to have lost over N4 billion, while about N3 billion worth of aviation equipment in 13 stations of the airline were wasting away.
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