[NEWS] Arik Air accuses Aviation Minister Stella Oduah, of Corruption_5% Stake Demanded

Stella Oduah
Premium Times

Corrupt demands allegedly made by the
Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, led to the
disruption of flights by Nigeria’s largest
domestic carrier, Arik Air.
Arik Air, suspended indefinitely all its
domestic operations after aviation union
workers from the Federal Aviation Authority
of Nigeria (FAAN) disrupted its flights out
of Lagos on Thursday.
Union members gathered at the domestic
wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport as
early as 7a.m. and prevented the airline
from operating its normal flights over
allegedly unpaid debts.
The union members claimed that the airline
owes aviation agencies a combined debt of
about N17bn, a claim the airline denies.
Despite the public knowledge of Arik’s debt,
the grounding of the airline’s operations by
the union members, sources say, is a
reflection of the intention of Ms. Oduah.
The 5 per cent demand:
Ms. Oduah, sources told PREMIUM TIMES
made a demand from Arik’s owners, a
demand too much for the management to let
go of.
The Vice-Chairman of Arik Air, Aniete Okon,
hinted at the minister’s ‘greedy’ demand
while addressing journalists in Lagos,
Thursday afternoon when he said the airline
is being punished for its refusal to accede to
the personal interest of Ms. Oduah.
“This is a direct result to the rebuff that the
minister suffered when she tried to promote
personal rather than national interest,” Mr.
Okon said.
Mr. Okon, fearing a direct confrontation
with the minister, a close ally of President
Goodluck Jonathan, declined to give details
of Ms. Oduah’s demands.
Multiple and usually reliable sources
however told PREMIUM TIMES that the
“personal interest” Ms. Oduah demanded,
was a part ownership of Arik. “The Minister
wants 5per cent share of Arik at all cost,
which has been resisted by the Arik
Chairman,” a close source to the two parties
said.
The source also alleged that Dana Air, whose
operating license was returned after
suspension following its airline crash of July,
agreed to the minister’s demand before it
was permitted to operate again.
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