The Federal Government has suspended the operations of the airline, Executive Jet Services, which conveyed musician, Naira Marley, to Abuja.
Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, said on Monday during the daily briefing of the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 that the flight which took the singer to Abuja from Lagos was approved for a different purpose.
He said the flight was to convey an Appeal Court judge, Justice Adefope Okogie, from Lagos to Abuja and back on official assignment and that the flight operator violated approval.
The minister said the operations of the flight company have been suspended indefinitely and would also be fined.
He added that the flight captain will also be sanctioned for providing false information.
He said, “The operation is a clear violation of our approval which we take very seriously. It seems this is becoming a norm. This is the second time. So, Executive Jet Services is hereby suspended indefinitely and they will face the law.
“The captain will also be sanctioned for giving wrong information to the control tower. It seems also that people are not tired of trying our resolve and we are not tired of living up to our responsibilities. Governance is a serious matter.”
Sirika added: “Going forward we will escalate the mechanisms we have in place, and we will be stricter in our approvals (and enforcement).”
Naira Marley held a concert in Abuja over the weekend in violation of travel restriction and ban on social gatherings.
The concert, which ex-Big Brother Naija housemate, Kim Oprah, also attended, was meant to be a drive-thru. It reportedly got out of hand after some fans left their cars and gained entrance into the venue.
