Reps Demand Inventory Of Private Jet Owners …As Rivers Defends Aircraft Purchase Deal

The chairman, House Committee on Justice, Rep Ali Ahmed (PDP Kwara) has directed the Nigeria Civic Aviation Authority (NCAA) to avail the committee a comprehensive title documents of all private jets and their owners in the country, within 48 hours.

Ali gave the directive yesterday in Abuja at an investigative hearing on the grounding of the Bombadier BD-700 aircraft with Registration Number N565RS.

Speaking at the hearing the secretary to the Rivers State Government, Mr George Feyii had said that the aircraft belonged to the Rivers State Government.

Feyii said the state government only incorporated a limited liability company, the Bank of Utah Trustee to facilitate the transaction.

He said Caverton Helicopter made the application for the import of the aircraft to the Minister of Aviation on behalf of the state government.

Feyii said that due to the arrangement, it was insinuated that the aircraft no longer belonged to the Rivers Government.

“Honourable members, the above represent our position as to the ownership status of the aircraft and shows that the aircraft belongs, not to any other person, but to the Rivers government,” he said.

He said government had been paying all necessary operational charges with respect to the operation and use of the aircraft.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government said yesterday that the Rivers Government had no licence to operate the Bombadier BD-700 aircraft it acquired.

Rep. Ali Ahmad (PDP-Kwara), the Chairman, House Committee on Justice, directed NCAA to avail the committee a comprehensive title documents of all private Jets and their owners in the country.