… Surmons former Aviation Minister, Sirika to appear before it to explain his role in the fraudulent sale of FG asset
By Chibuike Nwabuko
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – House of Representatives Committee on Public Assets has vowed to recover two Bell Helicopters, Bell 206L4 BZB and Bell M2061- L4 Helicopters belonging to the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria sold without Federal Executive Council’s (FEC) approval.
The Committee also summoned the former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika to appear before it in the next adjourned date to explain his role in the the sale of the Helicopter that is shrouded in fraud and criminality.
The House of Representatives Committee on Public Assets which is probing the controversial sale of two Bell Helicopters, Bell 206L4 BZB and Bell M2061- L4 Helicopters belonging to the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria to private individuals has vowed to recover them.
The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Ademorin Kuye during investigative hearing expressed concern over the sale of the two helicopters to private individuals, when the college is left with no helicopter for training.
The committee also questioned the process leading to the sale of the helicopters as security agencies including Nigerian Air Force, Navy and Police indicated interest to purchase them but were denied by the management of the NCAT.
The three security agencies according to various submissions, did not only indicate interest to purchase the helicopters by writing but also visited the college but were denied the opportunity to purchase them.
The Acting Rector of the College, Shaka Imalighwe who led the management team to the investigative hearing said though he was the Deputy Rector of the college as of the time the helicopters were sold, he was not part of the team/committee that facilitated their sales.
Shaka Imalighwe noted that he took over the management of the college in acting capacity in January 2024.
The House Committee Members lamented that despite initial appeals to NCAT to provide certain documents regarding the process that led to the sale of the helicopters in May 2023, they have not been able to provide any information or document in respect of approval of Federal Executive Council, (FEC) and Ministry of Aviation as well as newspaper publication advertising the college’s intention to sell the helicopters.
A letter from Cooperate Affairs Commission, which the lawmakers directed the Managing Director of Premier Jet Services (a company that purchased one of the helicopters) said Premier Jet Services is not in the record of CAC as one of the registered companies.
Though the representatives of the two companies that purchased the helicopters, Premier Jet Services and Blue Horn said they bought the helicopters as scraps, the Acting Rector, Shaka Imalighwe told the committee that the helicopters were in good condition and being maintained by relevant aviation bodies when they were sold.
The acting Rector of the college also confirmed to the lawmakers that at the moment, there is no single helccpter in the institution for training.
Similarly, a letter from the Certified Institute of Auctioneers Nigeria, noted that Tresmo Nigeria Ltd, is not a member of the institute. Tresmo was the company hired by NCAT to sell the helicopters. The lawmakers argued that it is wrong for NCAT to have used an unlicensed auctioneer to sell the helicopters.
The representative of Tresmo told the committee that his company collected 1.5% as commission while the two Bell 206L4 BZB and Bell M2061- L4 Helicopters were sold at $650,000 and $550,000 respectively in May 2023.
The Bursar of the college however said the amount remitted to the government is in Naira raising further questions why the actual amount was paid in dollars and remitted in naira.
The committee directed the immediate past and current Minister of Aviation to appear before it in the next investigative hearing. Also summoned is Ministry of Works, Ministry of Finance Incorporated, MOFI, both immediate past and present Rector of Nigeria College of Aviation Technology among others.
Feilding questions from journalists on the sideline after the public hearing, Hon Kuye said from the two days sitting of the investigative hearing into the improper sale of two Bell Helicopters by theNigerian Aviation College in Kaduna, they have so far established that due process was not followed, and that the sale of those Helicopters were shrouded in fraud and a lot of criminality. He added that his committee will get to the root of the matter to make sure that those Helicopters are recovered for Nigerians and for the benefit of Nigerians.
Hon. Kuye further clarified that they invited the immediate past minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika because it was under his watch that this hicopter was sold without FEC’s approval. Stressing that they want to know how and why he permitted those Helicopters to be sold without FEC approval and the kind of approval that they had under his leadership that led to the sale of those Helicopters.