February 04, (THEWILL) – Medview Airline has refuted reports alleging that the carrier, was involved in diversion of funds meant for the 2019 Hajj airlift, insisting that the funds were utilised for necessary preparations including aircraft maintenance and payment to service providers.
The Chief Executive Officer of Medview Airline, Alhaji Muneer Bankole, was said to have been invited on Monday by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), to shed light on the airline Hajj operations contract with National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
But in an official statement issued Friday, signed by the Executive Director, Business Development, Isiaq Na-Allah, the airline stated that there was no scam in Medview Airline 2019 Hajj airlift.
The airline stated that “The attention of the Medview Airline Plc has been drawn to media reports on allegation of scam following the invitation of the CEO, Alhaji Muneer Bankole, by EFCC to shed light on the airline Hajj Operations contract with National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
A statement made available to THEWILL added, “specifically, the airline pointed to the much touted $900,000, saying 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.
“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, Medview pointed out that a Presidential committee was raised to reconcile the differences in payment to Medview Airline and the number of pilgrims airlifted, and this later metamorphosed into a Ministerial Committee, where all issues were resolved.
“It is therefore strange for somebody to wake up and go to the rooftop, armed with trumpets and cymbal for a non-existent scam or diversion of funds all to smear Medview Airline Plc.
“Medview Airline is resolute to return to its leadership role in Hajj operations”, the airline emphasised.
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
