The House of Representatives Committee on Public Assets has extended invitations to Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo, his predecessor Senator Hadi Sirika, as well as the Rector/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, Joseph Shaka Imalighwe, and his predecessor.
This summons follows concerns regarding the sale of two Bell helicopters belonging to NCAT, Zaria, to private entities despite interest expressed by the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Police.
Chairman of the House Committee on Public Assets, Hon. (Barr.) Ademorin Kuye emphasized the necessity of these invitations given the circumstances surrounding the sale, which left the college without helicopters for student training. Notably, the sale occurred despite indications of interest from the military and law enforcement agencies.
Kuye revealed that the helicopters were sold in May 2023 to two firms at a price significantly below 60% of their original cost, denying government agencies the opportunity to acquire them.
The committee had initially scheduled an investigative hearing on this matter but was compelled to postpone due to the interference of anti-corruption authorities, who arrested individuals related to the case just before the hearing date.
As a result, the committee opted to reschedule the investigative hearing to a later date, given the developments involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and its arrests related to the helicopter sale.
The Minister of Aviation and all those summoned are expected to appear for the investigative hearing on June 25, 2024, at the House of Representatives wing in the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
According to Kuye, letters of invitation have been sent to the relevant persons and organizations concerning the hearing.
The Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, established about 50 years ago, is expected to provide human resource development in the aviation industry in Africa. NCAT is also expected to undertake training programs to meet both national and international requirements, but at the moment, the college is allegedly operating without a single helicopter.