Medview Airline Plc has revealed how the $900,000 meant for the 2019 hajj transportation, which has become a subject of an investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, was spent.
The airline’s executive director (business development), Isiaq Na-Allah, claimed the funds meant for the 2019 hajj were used for necessary preparations, including aircraft maintenance and payment to service providers.
“Specifically, out of the much-touted $900,000, NAHCON paid the money directly to two service providers in Saudi Arabia, namely General Authority of Aviation ($400,000 and Taibah Airports Development Company ($500,000), on July 5, 2019,” Mr Na-Allah said in a statement.
The EFCC had taken into custody the airline’s managing director Muneer Bankole, following an invitation by the anti-graft agency over the alleged diversion of 50 per cent of funds paid to him by the National Hajj Commission and an additional $900,000 for the airlift of pilgrims in 2019.
But Mr Na-Allah further claimed the invitation was to shed light on the airline’s hajj operations’ contract with NAHCON.
He added that despite attempts to frustrate its operations, “the airline airlifted 4,387 pilgrims from Kaduna, Yobe and Ogun states. The pilgrims’ boards in those states are living witnesses.” of the operation.
“In line with the terms of the contract with NAHCON, a presidential committee was raised to reconcile the differences in payment to the airline and the number of pilgrims airlifted, and this later metamorphosed into a ministerial committee, where all issues were resolved,” he further stated.
Mr Na-Allah also mentioned that it was “strange for somebody to wake up and go to the rooftop, armed trumpets, and cymbal for a non-existent scam or diversion of funds all to smear Medview Airline Plc.”
NAN