NIGERIA MASTERWEB DAILY NEWS

*I Have No Hand In Looting Of Nigeria's Afrijet ------Says Mohammed Tukur, Ex Director, Corporate Affairs

By Lateef Lawal

The former executive director of Afrijet, Alhaji Mohammed Tukur has washed his hands off an allegation of financial impropriety while he held forth at the airline as the director of corporate affairs and protocol. He said those linking his name to the predicament of the airline should shift their focus to somewhere else and stop blackmailing him.

Alhaji Tukur denied ever collecting $1.3 million from Idah Cargo, Abuja for the airline, nor receiving N15 million proceeds of military charters at any time. He added that all monies due were always pursued by the Station Manager of the airline and all payment due were electronically paid into the company's account. More so, he was in charge of passengers and not in charge of cargo while he was in the service of the airline, he concluded.

He explained further that the military charter was arranged for Afrijet by one Captain Donald Omale and he was aware that payment was made by the captain electronically to the account of the airline. All the accounts of the airline were always clarified by the former Managing Director who is currently the Chairman of the airline's Board. He said that he resigned from the airline when things were not going quite right. Such things he explained included non-payment of staff salaries by management led by former Managing Director, Captain Berry Noelle with workers owed close to one year salary and allowances. He said some died waiting, while others could not feed their families nor pay school fees for the children.

Alhaji Tukur noted that some people were trying to link him with what he knew nothing about, adding that there was no excuse whatsoever for misappropriation of the airline's money. He said the head of an organization should be held responsible for any financial misappropriation and the case of Afrijet should not be an exception. He said his lawyers were currently studying letters flying about with his name dubiously mentioned, for appropriate legal action.

Lateef Lawal ( NigerianAviationNews )

Photo Above: An Afrijet Plane