JUST IN: FG Bans Boeing 737 Max 8 Planes From Nigeria’s Airspace

The federal government has banned Boeing 737 Max airplanes from
flying into Nigeria’s airspace following a fatal crash in Ethiopia
over the weekend.

Hadi Sirika, minister of state, aviation, disclosed this to
state house correspondents at the end of the federal executive
council (FEC) meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu
Buhari.

“Regarding Boeing 737 Max 8 and Max 9, that has been in the news
recently, there is no cause for alarm as there is no operator in
Nigeria that is using that type of airplane,” he said.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, whose mandate it is to
issue advisory, has already issued advisory that nobody should fly
into Nigeria or out of Nigeria using Boeing 737 Max 8 and Max 9,
pending the determination of the actual cause of the crash in
Ethiopia and also pending the outcome of the response of the
manufacturer, which is Messers Boeing.

“Regardless of the enormous safety records of this plane 737, it
has caused concern in the world of aviation and you know aviation
is universal, whatever affects one affects the other because
aircraft will be flying in and out. So, we have issued directive
that no operator with Boeing 737 Max 8 or Max 9 should operate into
and outside our airports and this is being carried out.”

More to follow…

Corruption: Abuja Civil Servants to Forfeit N264m
Properties- ICPC

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences
Commission (ICPC) has moved to seize plots of land and duplexes
which values have been put at over N264 million from three civil
servants working in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.

The properties, which are owned by Poloma Kabiru Nuhu, Mangset
Longyl Dickson and Daniel Obah, currently under investigation by
the Commission include 19 plots of land, 10 hectares of farm land
and two duplexes, spread around Abuja and three towns in Rivers
State.

The 10 hectares of farmland located in Kuje, Abuja, was
allegedly acquired through corrupt acts by Nuhu, a Principal
Accountant with the ministry.

The move to seize the properties follows an investigation by the
Commission of the assets of Nuhu, Dickson and Obah, all staff of
the Niger Delta Affairs Ministry, which has established that the
trio allegedly have assets whose values are well above their
legitimate earnings and incomes.

ICPC, relying on Section 48 (2) of the Corrupt Practices and
Other Related Offences Act 2000, which gives it the power of
seizure of assets obtained by individuals through corrupt means
will seize 15 plots of land, all located in Gwagwalada, Abuja from
Nuhu.

Nuhu will also temporarily lose ownership of 10 hectares of farm
land valued at N50 million and an uncompleted duplex, valued at N90
million, at Apo Estate, Abuja, to the Commission.

On his part, Obah, a Principal Accountant in the Finance and
Account Department of the same Ministry will also lose temporary
ownership of a N60 million-valued four-bedroom duplex located in
Karsana, Abuja, and three plots of land with a collective value of
N64.5 million located in Abe Ndoni, Obio-Akpor and Port Harcourt,
River State.

While the third suspect, Dickson, will lose ownership of a plot
of land valued at N7 million, located at Kubwa, a suburb of
Abuja.

Signed:
Mrs Rasheedat A. Okoduwa, mni
Spokesperson for the Commission