NCAT: Reps Urge IGP to Investigate & Recover Alleged Stolen Two Helicopters
Mercy Adi
The House of Representatives Committee on Public Assets has called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to recover the alleged stolen of two helicopters belonging to the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology, Zaria.
The committee resolved that all those involved in the process that led to the disappearance of the two bell helicopters from the college be arrested and prosecuted.
The Chairman, House Committee on Public Assets, Hon. (Barr) Ademorin Kuye while reading out the resolution of the committee said, they have concluded the investigation into the controversial sale of the two Bell 206 Helicopters: 206 -L4 BZB and BZC -M2061 L4 that they were not sold but stolen. He tasked the IGP Egbetokun to immediately take steps to recover them by inviting the immediate past Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika as well as former Rector of the college and all those involved in the sham and shameful process. According to him, those found wanted should be prosecuted.
Kuye said the process that led to the controversial sale of the college’s helicopters in May 2023 when they were all preparing for the inauguration of the new government did not meet up with the minimum requirements as there was no Federal Executive Council’s approval, and ministerial approval letter was also not shown to the committee.
According to the committee’s resolution, the auctioneer engaged for the hatchet job was not a licensed auctioneer as he was not registered with Certified Institute of Auctioneers, Nigeria and their investigation revealed that the company used by this auctioneer was registered about three years ago with the purpose of farm input business like fertilizer and other similar issues. The committee wondered how such company will be used for the sale of helicopter.
The committee further noted that there was no advertisement to enable interested persons or organizations to participate in the bidding process and also expressed concern how new helicopters that only flew for about 42 and 46 hours will be sold at a ridiculous amount of $1,2 million to two companies belonging to one person. The lawmakers also noted that apart from denying Nigerian Army, Police, Navy and Air Force the opportunity to participate in the bidding process, the college was also left with no helicopter for training of students.
The delegation from Nigeria Army led by Maj. General S. I. Musa said they were surprised to hear that the two helicopters were sold by the aviation college despite all the efforts they made to acquire them. He said from their assessment the helicopters were not scraps as portrayed by the authorities of the NCAT. According to Maj. Gen, Musa, the two helicopters are new ones and only flew 42 and 46 hours respectively.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Aviation, Dr. Emmanuel Meribole who represented the Minister, Festus Keyamo said he is yet to confirm the approval letter purportedly from the ministry authorizing the sale of the two helicopters.
The Registrar, Certified Institute of Auctioneers, Nigeria, Adeleke Hassnn told the committee that the “auctioneer’ that was engaged for the controversial sale of the helicopters is not their member. According to Hassan, the authorities of the college also failed to comply with the relevant rules in selecting auctioneer. He said qualified auctioneer can only be selected after an advertisement and not handpicked as done by NCAT authorities.
In the same vein, the delegation of Nigerian Police led by AIG Danladi L. said the two bell 206 helicopters of NCAT were being maintained at the same hanger where bell 206 helicopters of Nigerian Police were being maintained but expressed surprise that the college sold the helicopters without their knowledge.
Hon. (Barr) Ademorin Kuye expressed worry over the poor management of public assets by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), noting that the country cannot make genuine progress if there is no change of such attitude.
Apart from calling on IGP to arrest ex-minister of aviation and all those involved in the controversial sale of the helicopters, the committee during the investigative hearing ordered the detention of the officials of the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology who gave fake and conflicting testimony during the hearing while on oath. The police officers from National Assembly Police Division immediately took them away for questioning.
