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'We didn't know they were useless people' - Executive Jet apologises for flying Naira Marley to Abuja

Thompson Nsisongabasi

Jun 16, 2020

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Executive Jet Services Limited, an aviation company, has tendered an apology for flying Naira Marley, a singer, to Abuja for a concert.

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AFNEWS had reported that criticisms trailed the event, with many Nigerians calling for disciplinary measures against the singer and the organisers.

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The federal capital territory administration (FCTA) had sealed off the Jabi Lake mall, which hosted the singer, for violating restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19.

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Speaking during the briefing of the presidential task force on COVID-19, Hadi Sirika, minister for aviation, said the Executive Jet flight that conveyed Naira Marley for the concert was approved for a different purpose.

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He announced that the flight company had been suspended indefinitely, adding that the flight captain would be sanctioned for providing false information.

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But in a letter addressed to Sirika on Monday, Sam Iwu, the company's chief executive officer, apologised over the incident.

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He admitted that the flight was approved to convey a judge to Abuja but said the intended passenger had found his way to Abuja with the help of another flight.

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Iwu said his team later got an offer to convey another set of passengers to Abuja but added that he was confused when he saw the name Fashola Babatunde.

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The company's chairman said he thought it was the minister of works and housing not knowing that "it was a bunch of useless peopleÔÇØ.

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"We hereby apologize for the above flight, with your permit ref: PMA/ATMD/0175/V/V/1268 dated 11th June, 2020,ÔÇØ the letter read.

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"Please the flight was to carry a Judge to Abuja on Sunday 14th, 2020 as requested and permit was granted based on the application, but unfortunately when I called the Judge on Saturday morning to inform him that we have the permit, he then said that he has reached Abuja already with a different flight that someone gave him a lift to Abuja.

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"So on Saturday morning 13th June, 2020 my staff called me that they have a charter flight to Abuja and that the passengers are already in the lounge as a rule passenger manifest is always sent to me before any departure, when I went through the manifest and I saw FASHOLA BABATUNDE I thought it was the Honorable Minister of Works going to Abuja with his men, so we decided to do the flight since (he) is a serving minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I didn't know that it was a bunch of useless people.

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"We are very sorry for this mistake and we promise that this would not happen again.ÔÇØ

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— Thompson Nsisongabasi

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