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Friday, May 3, 2013
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
L-R: Lord Mayor of City of the London, Alderman Roger Gifford; Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola and Deputy British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Peter Carter, during the Lord Mayor’s visit to Lagos, yesterday. L-R: Regional Business Manager, National Mirror Newspapers, Mr. David Adeagbo; Head, Press and External Relations, Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Mr. Kalu Otisi and Abuja Advert Manager, Mr. Gbenga Adeosun, during a visit of the National Mirror team to the PTDF headquarters in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA
L-R:Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Pascal Dozie; author of the book, Dr. Christopher Kolade; Special Guest and former President Olusegun Obasanjo at the launch of the book titled: “Kolade’s Canons” in Lagos, yesterday.
Group Managing Director, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Yemi Adeola (left) and Chairman, Alhaji Suleiman Adegunwa, at the 51st Annual General meeting of the bank in Lagos, yesterday.
National News
Amaechi used forged documents to operate aircraft, FG insists CONTINUED FROM 1 registration number N565RS, the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah said, is currently listed on the United States Department of Transport (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration Registry. In a statement issued by her Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Joe Obi, the minister said the registration was issued to “Bank of Utah Trustee” of 200 E, South Temple, Suite 210, Salt Lake City, UT 841111346. Obi said the registration was issued on September 28, 2012 and would expire on September 30, 2015, adding that the registration certificate explicitly stated that the aircraft registration was not transferable. He explained that the aircraft was insured with Alliance Global Risks US Insurance Company. Obi said: “The policy holder noted on the Certificate of Insurance is Acass Canada Limited of 6700 Cote de Liesse, Suite
206, Montreal, QC H4T 2B5, Canada. “The Certificate of Insurance is dated September 28, 2012 to expire on August 12, 2013, and it appears to have been issued with respect to a Ferry Flight Agreement of September 2012. “On April 26, 2013 the aircraft was refused startup at Akure airport due to insufficient and improper documentation. Specifically, the pilot failed and/ or refused to file a proper passenger manifest declaring the full identity of all passengers on the aircraft for the intended flight as mandatorily required by the regulatory authorities. “Upon review of the aircraft’s records, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, discovered that the aircraft was operating illegally within the Nigerian airspace. Specifically, it was revealed that the aircraft did not have a valid flight clearance for its operations on April 26, 2013 as the last purported clearance obtained for the
aircraft expired on April 2, 2013.” Obi said investigation revealed that the last flight clearance had been obtained using the name of Caverton Helicopters, but noted that a letter from the helicopter company, Caverton Helicopters dated April 26, 2013 disclaimed any knowledge of or involvement with the flight clearances previously obtained in its name for the aircraft. He stressed that in view of Caverton’s letter denying its involvement with the clearances applications, the ministry directed the NCAA to commence investigation into all the circumstances surrounding the false clearance applications. Obi said the flight clearance process is a vital safety and security component of civil aviation worldwide, which requires the involvement of the civil aviation authorities and the security agencies before approval is given. Caverton insisted it would not want to be drawn
into the issue. Speaking through one of its consultants, who did not want to be named, as he was not directed to speak on the issue, Caverton explained that the company only had responsibility to the ministry and the regulator, NCAA on the issue. The consultant said: “Caverton does not have any position on this issue. There are so many ways to this issue and if Caverton has to explain, it will have to be through NCAA and the supervisory ministry.” But the Rivers State Government yesterday disowned stories being bandied around the purchase of the airplane by the NCAA. According to a statement signed by the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Ibim Semenitari, the state expressed dismay over series of statements made by officials of the aviation regulating agencies. But the state govern-
ment maintained that it has not breached any law. A statement by the commissioner yesterday explained its own side thus: “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 air-
craft 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. “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.”