ADVERTISEMENT
  • The Membership Club
  • PT Hausa
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Thursday, March 4, 2021
Premium Times Nigeria
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
Premium Times Nigeria
BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
The crashed chopper

Crash sparks questions on use of military copter for illegal shuttles

Outrage over use of crashed naval helicopter for illegal, burial duties

byIni Ekott
December 18, 2012
4 min read

Three days after the tragic helicopter crash that killed six, authorities in Nigeria have been scrambling to outdo one another in bid to assure a distraught nation that actions would be taken to avert a reoccurrence even as outrage mounts among Nigerians who insist the crashed chopper was deployed for illegal duties.

President Goodluck Jonathan ordered an investigation; the Navy, owners of the crashed aircraft, announced an air accident investigation; and the House of Representatives pledged liaising with aviation authorities to conduct checks on military and civil aircraft in the country.

Separately on Monday, the House aviation committee announced sweeping inquiry into the “remote and immediate” causes of the accident that killed former Kaduna state governor, Patrick Yakowa, former National Security Adviser, Owoye Azazi, their aides, Dauda Tsoho and Mohammed Kama; and the pilots, Murtala Daba and Adeyemi Sowole.

“We will leave no stone unturned towards ensuring air safety in Nigeria by strengthening our oversight functions of the relevant regulatory agencies in the aviation sector,” chairperson, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, said in a statement.

But amid an outpouring of grief, and the routine promise to make our airspace safer, the crash, one of the nation’s most questionable in years, has thrown up a troubling concern that has helped light up fury across a mourning people.

Through Sunday and Monday, that question, dominating discussions on several platforms, stood clear: why a military transporter, under civil conditions, was deployed as a funeral ferry for non-military passengers.

“Who authorized the use of military helicopter in a purely private party?” Abuja-based rights lawyer, Kayode Ajulo, said in a reaction on his Facebook page on Sunday.

Dino Melaye, a former member of the House of Representatives, raised the same concern.

“Who authorized the use of Nigerian Navy helicopter for kabukabu operation?” Mr. Melaye asked, comparing the shuttles made by the ill-fated helicopter with a city taxi runs.

RelatedNews

Police investigate armed attack on Bayelsa community

Buhari condoles Jonathan over Oronto Douglas

Associates, groups mourn Oronto Douglas

​Senate President, Mark, mourns Oronto Douglas

Then he noted: “Carrying non-Naval officers for a burial is not official.”

The disquiet, another commentator pointed, merely cashed on what has been a normal practice of diverting military, and civilian equipment, for illicit purposes, only headlined this time by the fatal crash.

“It is a reflection of the excesses and abuse of office going on routinely in the nation’s corridors of power,” Nwokolo Ernest said. “It would have passed un-noticed, un-examined as usual but for the ill-fated crash.”

Dangote adbanner 728x90_2 (1)

By Monday, the details of the deployment remained scant and unofficial.

Naval authorities would not provide a formal explanation regarding why a national security asset was deployed for a burial of a private citizen and whether it was for commercial reasons, and whose responsibility it is to replace the wrecked chopper.

The presidency, whose authorization is required for such duty tour, and whose aide hosted the event at the centre of the accident, also offered no explanations.

The Naval official response since the attack, coming on Monday afternoon, barely attempted to address questions about the airworthiness of the chopper, an Italian made Augusta 105.

In a statement, naval authorities said the Navy carries out regular maintenance of its aviation assets, and that the crashed helicopter was last serviced on November 19.

The claim, made by the Chief of Training and Operations at Naval headquarters, Emmanuel Ogbor, said before crashing, the chopper still had more than 80 flight hours left, having covered 1, 704 flight hours.

ADVERTISEMENT

“In order to ensure serviceability of helicopters, a certified technical support engineer from Augusta Westland is retained in Nigeria by the Navy at huge cost to support maintenance efforts,” Mr. Ogbor, a Rear Admiral, said.

But the statement was silent on the helicopter’s use, and whether naval regulations allows a national security asset to be used for commercial activities or extra-military functions, including the transportation of guests to the funeral ceremony of a presidential aide.

“If it is turned to commercial for the prevailing purposes, how much is in receipt of the Federal Government of Nigeria?” Mr. Ajulo asked.

Finding answers to these questions may be weeks, or even months away, analysts said, although the planned House of Representatives’ inquiry might yield some disclosures.

Used as operational aid, helicopters are deployed by many naval units across the world purely for aiding ship operations, and for special military exercises.

Extra-military applications, with the authorization of the president as the Commander-in-Chief, could only be for emergency needs, military analysts said.

Admiral Ogbor, who spoke for the navy, also underline similar rules of deployment in his statement on Monday, citing naval use of aircrafts only for “vectoring ships for interdiction and interception operations.”

“Considering our vast maritime domain, the Nigerian Navy employs helicopters to enhance its maritime capability by utilizing the speed and long range of the helicopters,” he said.

No part of those remarks alluded to the nature of the assignment the ill-fated helicopter was deployed to carry out.

According to the Navy’s official website, the crashed helicopter was amongst the only three aircrafts owned by the force, others being an Aeronautics Aerostar, and a Westland Lynx.

While the crashed chopper was a light utility craft, seemingly the relative best, the other two were a Reconnaissance and a medium utility helicopter respectively.

 The last two were purchased from Israel and the crashed one United Kingdom.

  • WhatsApp
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • Telegram
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Pocket

Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate


TEXT AD: To advertise here . Call Willie +2347088095401...



JOIN THE CONVERSATION

  • Disqus (7)
premiumtimes



PT Mag Campaign AD

Previous Post

Lagos Speaker’s trial adjourned again, due to misplaced exhibits’ key

Next Post

Obasanjo, Jega corrupted Ghana’s electoral process- CPC spokesperson, Fashakin

Ini Ekott

Ini Ekott

More News

Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara state. [PHOTO CREDIT: @officialdrbellomatawalle]

JUST IN: Zamfara govt imposes curfew in Jangebe after violent protest

March 4, 2021
Former Nigerian president, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

Jonathan tasks universities to produce workforce to power nation’s economy

March 4, 2021
The Sultan Abubakar Saad-led JNI says the debate will give undue publicity to Abduljabbar.

JNI speaks on planned debate with controversial Kano preacher, Abduljabbar

March 4, 2021
COVID Vaccine

COVID-19: Nigeria records 16 more deaths as it prepares for mass vaccination

March 4, 2021
A gas plant used to illustrate the story [Photo: Africa Invest]

Renewable Energy: Why Africa looks likely to continue relying on fossil fuels

March 4, 2021
Zamfara State map

Insecurity: PDP accuses APC of plot to take over Zamfara

March 4, 2021
Next Post
Obasanjo, Jega corrupted Ghana’s electoral process- CPC spokesperson, Fashakin

Obasanjo, Jega corrupted Ghana’s electoral process- CPC spokesperson, Fashakin

Obasanjo, Jega corrupted Ghana’s electoral process- CPC spokesperson, Fashakin

Obasanjo, Jega corrupted Ghana election - CPC spokesperson

Discussion about this post

Search

#EndSARS: Latest Updates




Polaris Bank


JAIZ Ad


NITDA Ad





Glo Ad

Subscribe to News via Email

Enter your email address and receive notifications of news by email.

Join 1,627,661 other subscribers.

Advertisement






netherland biz school Advert



Zenith Advert

ADVERTISEMENT

Our Digital Network

  • PT Hausa
  • Election Centre
  • Human Trafficking Investigation
  • Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • National Conference
  • Press Attack Tracker
  • PT Academy
  • Dubawa
  • LeaksNG
  • Campus Reporter

Resources

  • Oil & Gas Facts
  • List of Universities in Nigeria
  • LIST: Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
  • NYSC Orientation Camps in Nigeria
  • Nigeria’s Federal/States’ Budgets since 2005
  • Malabu Scandal Thread
  • World Cup 2018
  • Panama Papers Game
  • Our Digital Network
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Data & Infographics
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • Parliament Watch
    • AGAHRIN
  • Opinion
  • PT Hausa
  • The Membership Club
  • Dubawa
    • Dubawa NG
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Store
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.