The seven-member crew of the Ukrainian aircraft that flew into the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on Tuesday with arms and ammunition were yesterday moved to the Abuja office of the Directorate of Military intelligence (DMI) for further investigation.
A Nigerian clearing agent linked with the Ukrainian aircraft, simply identified as Sylvester, was also taken to the DMI office with the crew.
Sources also confirmed that Ukrainian embassy officials met the crew in Kano on Thursday night.
It was gathered that authorities of the country where the flight originated (Ukraine) and its final destination (Equatorial Guinea) have been contacted in the course of investigations carried out by DMI.
When THISDAY visited Kano airport yesterday evening, the impounded aircraft was still being guarded by stern looking security men.
Meanwhile, the Ukrai-nian news agency yesterday quoted Nikolai Minyailo, the director-general of the company that owns the detained aircraft as saying that there were “absolutely no violations concerning the plane, cargo or the documents used.
“The aircraft landed in Nigeria for re-fueling,” Minyailo said. He expressed hope that the situation would be sorted out soon.
In a related development, the Defence Headquarters yesterday said if investigations into the impounded Ukrainian aircraft showed that it flouted any of the nation’s aviation rules and regulations, “the law will take its course.”
The outgoing Director of Defence Information (DDI), Col. Chris Jemitola said this at his valedictory press briefing in Abuja before handing over to the new DDI, Col. Mohammed Yerima.
Col. Jemitola who said he did not understand what all the fuss was about over the impounded aircraft as investigations were still on going, added: “We have rules and regulations governing the aviation industry.
“We should also give the local commander time to address this issue as he deems fit, or within the purview of his office.
“It is still premature for the Defence Headquarters at this stage to make any statement. Investigations will be carried out; papers will be inspected before it is made public.
“Planes crisscross Nige-rian air space all the time and some of them have technical stops. If it is seen that such aircraft or platform violates our local rules and regulations, the law will take its course.”
Asked if it was not contradictory that the federal government would offer amnesty to militants in the Niger Delta and at the same time carry out military operations in the region through the Joint Task Force, Jemitola replied that the amnesty announced by President Umaru Yar’Adua did not mean that the military should lower its guard on its assigned duties of securing the nation’s “vital national interest.”
He added that during the ongoing operations in the Niger Delta, only “minimum force” was being used. “At no time were bombs applied. At no time were high calibre weapons used.
“What we have seen so far is the employment of low calibre weapons bec-ause of the impact of using high calibre weapons on fellow Nigerians.”
The Ukrainian aircraft was seized on Tueday at the Kano airport after it had stopped to refuel. Trouble started for the crew when officials of the Customs and Immigration Services reportedly observed suspicious information supplied by the crew in the flight discharge sheet.
Some of the weapons said to have been discovered on the aircraft include howitzers, rifles, machine guns, rocket launchers and mortars.
Suspicions have been rife that the 18 crates of arms and ammunition on the plane might have been headed for the Niger Delta.
Jun202009