The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended a private helicopter belonging to the general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God Pastor Enoch Adeboye at the Lagos airport.
The aircraft, AgustaWestland AW139 chopper, with registration number 5N-EAA, was suspended from flying about a fortnight ago following the expiration of some of its papers and spare parts, PUNCH reports.
Last Saturday, Adeboye attempted to use the helicopter to travel to Ibadan, Oyo State capital but realised it had been grounded.
The RCCG leader eventually flew another helicopter reportedly belonging to Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church.
On arrival at a special meeting with all ordained ministers of the mission at the RCCG, Region 21 in Ibadan, Adeboye said he arrived late for the meeting because someone had requested a bribe from him to fly his helicopter.
“I don’t give excuses because I have discovered long ago that only failures give excuses. But you must pray for Nigeria,” he said.
“Something must be done about corruption in this nation. All I can say is that I am this late because somebody wanted a bribe. And you know if you are expecting a bribe from me, you have to wait forever.
“But the devil has failed. And the devil will continue to fail. I decided to come by helicopter so that there won’t be a traffic jam that would tie me down on the (Lagos-Ibadan) expressway because I know what the devil could do.
“Then, I ran into something else. But by the grace of God, we are here.”
The newspaper could not verify who requested the alleged bribe from Adeboye. However, a top official of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Adeboye’s team should have informed him in time about the suspension of the aircraft.
An official of Omni-Blu Aviation, the operator of Adeboye’s helicopter,
said a letter from Italy-based Leonardo, the manufacturer of Adeboye’s AW 139 helicopter, requesting the NCAA to grant a time extension on some spare parts that are due for replacement came late.
Speaking on the suspension, NCAA director-general Captain Musa Nuhu told the newspaper: “There are safety-related issues that must be resolved before the aircraft will be approved for resumption of flights. Safety is the paramount consideration in all approvals given by the NCAA. No matter what, we must not sacrifice safety for flights; that is the whole idea.”
