June 29, (THEWILL) – Two Bell 206L-4 model helicopters belonging to the Nigerian College of Civil Aviation (NCAT), Zaria, Kaduna, that the now-indicted former Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Hadi Sirika, ‘auctioned’ way below their market value towards the end of the Muhammadu Buhari administration are now in a hanger operated by Dynamic Helicopters, Number 821-3, NE, 10 Street, in Pompano Beach, Florida, United States waiting to be resold at market value, THEWILL can exclusively report.
THEWILL reports that the circumstances surrounding the ‘auction’ of the helicopters at a combined value of USD$1.2m are presently being investigated by the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation.
According to THEWILL checks, the helicopters with registration numbers 5N-BZB and 5N-BZC, which were purchased for training by the NCAT for around $4.8m in 2010 and 2011 had done around 50 hours each of flying time before they were hurriedly flipped by Mr. Sirika and shipped abroad. Though the name of Lagos-based businessman, Sam Iwuajoku and his company, ExecuJet Nigeria came up during our checks on the whereabouts of the helicopters, the Nigerian entrepreneur who also operates a luxury jet hanger and the Legend Hotel at the Airport in Lagos, vehemently denied any links to the deal.
THEWILL checks further revealed that the helicopters are yet to be deregistered as they still carry their Nigerian registration.
THEWILL sources further said Manyatta Engineering, the company that originally supplied the choppers to the NCAT, is actively trying to purchase them back at their true value.
“It is now left for the Nigerian authorities to figure out the role of Hadi and Iwuajoku in the fraudulent disposal of these prime aviation assets that the Nigerian armed forces had wanted to acquire so badly to help them in their operations. The audacity of this theft is sickening,” one of the sources told THEWILL, asking not to be identified.
A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Abuja granted a N100m bail each to Sirika and his co-defendants arraigned over alleged fraud and abuse of office to the tune of N2.7 billion.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had indicted and charged Mr. Sirika, his daughter, Fatima, his younger brother, Abubakar Sirika, and son-in-law, Jalal Sule Hamma, along with Al-Duraq Investment Limited and Engirios Nigeria Limited on alleged multiple criminal counts of contract fraud, abuse of office and money laundering at a Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Abuja. They were subsequently granted a N100m bail each.
THEWILL also reports that the EFCC is also investigating the former Aviation Minister for his handling of the fraudulent Nigeria Air project, which the current administration has since suspended.
**This report has been amended to include the reaction of Dr. Iwuajoku.
*** NOTE TO EDITORS: This is an exclusive report. If you intend to reproduce or reference this report in your publication, please credit THEWILL NEWS as the original author and source.
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