House Committee Indicts Buhari Minister, Sirika Over Helicopter Sales

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Assets has indicted the former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, in connection with the controversial sale of two helicopters by the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria.

This indictment follows an investigation into the alleged illegal sale which occurred under Sirika’s watch, as reported by Saturday Punch.

The helicopters, both Bell 206 models, were reportedly sold off by NCAT for a total of N556,200,322, citing reasons of underutilization.

According to former Rector and Chief Executive of NCAT, Capt. Alkali Modibo, the sale was executed following all due processes with the involvement of a government-licensed auctioneer, Messrs Tresmo Nigeria Limited, and under the oversight of the Federal Ministries of Aviation and Works.

Despite these claims, the Committee chaired by Ademorin Kuye, representing Somolu Federal Constituency in Lagos, raised concerns about the transparency of the transaction.

Notably, the helicopters were sold for $1.2 billion, a stark contrast to their purchase price of $2.4 billion, without the approval of the Federal Executive Council and seemingly in haste as the Buhari administration was concluding.

The Committee has called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to bring in Sirika and the buyers of the helicopters for questioning and potential prosecution.

In its findings as contained in the submitted report, the committee said, “The act (sale of the two helicopters) was aided by Sen Hadi Sirika, the immediate past former Minister of Aviation.

“Captain Alkali Modibo, the immediate former Rector of the college; Idrisu Ibrahim, Head of Quality Assurance of the College; Mohammed Musa Bashir, Head of Procurement of the College; Ibrahim Jibril Mason, the Bursar of the College and Adeyemi Apata, the unlicensed auctioneer.”

The committee resolved that “the buyers of the alleged stolen helicopters, Blue Horn Aviation Services Limited and Premier Jet Service Limited, and those that aided the transaction be invited by the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation and prosecution of all found culpable.”

It also urged the IG to take over the investigation of the matter while directing the Nigeria Police Force and Federal Ministry of “To recover the two alleged stolen helicopters as soon possible and report progress and recovery to the House of Representatives for further legislative action.”

The Kuye-led committee revealed in its findings that NCAT under Modibbo “Did not seek Federal Executive Council approval for the sale of the two helicopters.

“The Chief of Army Staff who was ably represented by Major General S. I. Musa said that they were denied the opportunity to acquire the two Bell 206 Helicopters – 206 – L4 BZB and BZC – M206 – L4 from the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria. He informed the committee that the drive by the Nigerian Army to acquire the two Bell 206 helicopters is part of the ongoing effort to operationalise the Nigeria Army Aviation that was established in 2014.

“He emphasised that acquiring the two Bell 206 helicopters would have been a step in the right direction to enhance the effectiveness of the ongoing Nigerian Army operations across the country, with a positive impact on national security. Nigerian Army was dismayed when the two Bell 206 Helicopters that are new and only flew 42 and 46 hours respectively were sold to two private companies (Blue Horn Services Limited and Premier Jet Services) after all the concerted efforts to acquire them were denied by the Aviation College,” the report further read.

It also quoted the Registrar, Certified Institute of Auctioneers of Nigeria, Mr Adeleke Hassan, in his presentation as telling the committee that from their record, “The auctioneer that was engaged by the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, is not a registered member of the Institute as portrayed by NCAT. He faulted the authority of the College for failing to comply with the relevant rules in selecting an auctioneer.”

“The Managing Director, Premier Jet Services, Jubril O and Blue Horn Services Limited General Manager Operations, Mr Olayinka Ogunseyi, in their brief oral submission, claimed that the two helicopters were sold to them in scrap but acknowledged that it was the first and only helicopters the companies ever had,” it further noted.