Man uses Director’s name to obtain flight clearance

Juliana Francis

The Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Milverton, Ikoyi, Lagos State, has arrested one Kolawole Ayodele over a case of fraudulent misrepresentation of Flight Clearance Application of Bombardier Global Express 5000 Registration N565RS, belonging to Rivers State Government.

According to the Unit spokesperson, Ngozi Isintume-Agu, investigation, which led to the eventual arrest of Ayodele, 43, started after the Unit received a petition from Caverton Helicopters Ltd.

Isintume-Agu explained that Caverton Helicopters Ltd alleged that sometime in August 2012, ACASS of Canada, an Aircraft Management Company contacted them to assist with an importation permit to facilitate the delivery of an aircraft to Nigeria on behalf of the Rivers State Government.

They wrote a letter to the Federal Ministry of Aviation but mid-way was disengaged from follow-up and as such, was no longer responsible for the aircraft.

Caverton Helicopters Ltd confirmed that Rivers State Government imported the said aircraft into the country without using the services of Caverton Helicopters ultimately.

Isintume-Agu said: “The petitioner further stated that on April 26, 2013, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) called their attention to certain applications for clearance for the referenced aircraft purportedly endorsed by their Director one Mr. Adeniyi Makanjuola which they disclaimed immediately and informed NCAA that the application for clearance did not originate from their office and that there was no agreement between them and the “Rivers State Government. They opined that the latter has not paid any money to them in respect of any service for the said aircraft. The petitioner stated that the preliminary investigation conducted revealed that the act of applying for flight clearances, without authority for the said aircraft was carried out by one Mr. Kolawole Ayodele the suspect who acted as an agent for them in the past, unknowingly retained copies of their letter head papers which he allegedly used to obtain clearances for third parties, without Caverton Helicopters Ltd. consent and authority.”

The image maker said that Ayodele is from Ijurin Ekiti in Ekiti State, and works with Executive Aviation as Flight Administrator.  She alleged that Ayodele had already confessed to the crime and stated that it was one Jide and Idowu who introduced him to one Captain Tosin and told him that he could obtain flight clearance for the aircraft with Caverton Helicopters letter head paper using the Director’s name. 

He admitted that it was one Mr. Adeshina with Lewis Cooper Aviation who signed the letter, adding that he collected the sum of $400.00 US Dollar for the services.