Presidency Wants To Disgrace Governor Amaechi Over Aircraft, Attack On Jonathan

The face-off over the registration or otherwise of a Bombadier aircraft owned by Rivers State government took a twist on Thursday with the Federal Government threatening to prosecute Rivers for forgery.

“The presentation of false information or forged documentation to regulatory authorities in the processing of official approvals or permits is clearly a serious violation of the Civil Aviation Act, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations and other extant criminal laws in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Upon conclusion of these internal investigations, the Ministry will take all necessary steps required by law.”

Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, said in a statement that the clearance documents used by the aircraft had been discovered to be forged, threatening that the state government would be prosecuted for the action which the minister said amounted to a violation of the nation’s aviation laws as well as other extant criminal laws of the land.

Efforts by Punch to get the reaction of the Rivers State government to the development on Thursday failed as several calls made to both the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari; and Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Tofolari George, were unanswered.

The aviation minister alleged that the flight clearance documents used by the aircraft might have been forged because Caverton Helicopters, whose name appeared on the clearance documents, had denied doing so in a letter to the Federal Government.

However, Olufamous.com gathered from Aviation insiders that there are more of such private aircraft in Nigeria without due registration and that the only reason Governor Amaechi, who is chairman of the Governors' Forum, is singled out is because of his "battle" with President Goodluck Jonathan.