The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has released the managing director of Medview Airline Muneer Bankole on bail after about five days in detention.
Bankole was detained on Monday afternoon at the headquarters of the EFCC in Jabi, Abuja.
He is alleged to have diverted 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, which he allegedly failed to execute.
Confirming his release on bail on Saturday, EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren told PUNCH that investigation into the allegations against him was ongoing.
“He was released on bail this week,” he said.
The airline has denied the allegations, saying the fund meant for the 2019 Hajj were utilised 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,” a statement on Friday by the airline’s executive director Isiaq Na-Allah read.
“In spite of deft moves by some highly placed persons to frustrate the airline from the operations with late release of funds, Medview 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 metaphosed into a Ministerial Committee, where all issues were resolved.”
