The Federal Government on Friday grounded a helicopter
chartered by Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, at the Benin Airport, 42
days after a similar fate was visited on his Rivers State counterpart, Rotimi
Amaechi. Amaechi’s Bombadier BD70 jet was grounded at Akure Airport in Ondo
State on April 26 by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority after he had
attended the burial of the former deputy governor of Ekiti State, Mrs. Funmi
Olayinka, in Ado Ekiti.
Oshiomhole and some aides were on their way from
Government House, Benin to Awka, Anambra State in the chartered OAS helicopter
marked 5N-BPX AS335 for the burial of Mrs. Collette Obi, the wife of the
Special Adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi when
the aircraft was recalled to Benin Airport.
When the Filipino pilot, Capt. James Manahash, received
the signal from the airport’s control tower, he immediately altered course and
headed to the airport. He disembarked and went to enquire why he was recalled. He
was told that he did not pay aerodrome and landing fees and that he did not
also file a passengers’ manifest.
The pilot was, however, told that he would not be allowed
to fly the helicopter for reasons which were not stated to him. Not even the
intervention of the governor, who was forced to disembark after sitting in the
aircraft for one hour, could make the airport staff to allow the aircraft to
continue with the journey. When it became obvious that he would not be allowed
to fly, Oshiomhole and his aides cancelled the journey and called up the
governor’s convoy.
When it arrived, the governor left the airport to his
hometown, Iyamho, in Etsako West Local Government Area of the state. Efforts to
get his comments on the development, however failed.
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