The Nigerian Government has suspended a chopper belonging to the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye from flying.
The suspension according to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is essential and would allow the regulator to conduct vital safety checks on it.
The NCAA added that some parts of Pastor Adeboye’s AgustaWestland AW139 chopper with registration number 5N-EAA are due for replacement and will be checked during the period.
Reacting, the Osun-born Mathematics scholar, who was said to have attended a special meeting with all ordained ministers of the RCCG, Region 21, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital expressed disappointment at the development.
According to him, he said he decided to embark on the trip via his chopper to avoid a possible gridlock on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Pastor Adeboye disclosed that he arrived late to the venue of the meeting in Ibadan because he was being asked to give a bribe.
The man of God urged RCCG leaders to pray for Nigeria in putting an end to corruption in the country.
His word reads, “I don’t give excuses because I have discovered long ago that only failures give excuses. But you must pray for Nigeria.
“Something must be done about corruption in this nation. All I can say is that I am this late because somebody wanted a bribe. And you know if you are expecting a bribe from me, you have to wait forever.
He added that, “the devil has failed. And the devil will continue to fail. I decided to come by helicopter so that there won’t be a traffic jam that would tie me down on the expressway because I know what the devil could do.
“Then, I ran into something else. But by the grace of God, we are here.”
Confirming the development, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) said, “The team relating directly with Daddy G.O. should have told the man of God on time that his chopper had not been cleared by the NCAA and, as such, it couldn’t go on the Ibadan trip.
NAMA added that Pastor Adeboye shouldn’t have waited till the last minute.
The statement partly reads, “the NCAA (aviation regulatory agency) that we have now is different from what it used to be. There is a new man in charge who always insists that things must be done properly as far as the safety of lives is concerned. The church’s protocol team should have told him that the NCAA has not cleared the aircraft and it may not clear it within a short time because certain procedures must be followed. As such, an alternative arrangement should have been made.”
It was reported that Pastor Adeboye flew Bishop David Oyedepo’s jet to the venue of the meeting following the development.
Also, Omni-Blu Aviation, the airline operating the chopper for Adeboye, confirmed the development.
Omni-Blu Aviation expressed regret that a letter from Italy-based Leonardo, the manufacturer of Adeboye’s AW 139 helicopter, requesting the NCAA to grant a time extension on some spare parts that are due for replacement came late.
A top official of the Aviation company who spoke in confidence reportedly said: “The NCAA that we have now is different from what it used to be. It always insists on a standard. We don’t want any disappointing situation for anybody, especially for a globally reputed servant of God like Daddy G.O.
“It appears the man of God was not properly briefed. But we thank God an alternative arrangement was made to rescue the situation. Safety is first and paramount. No life is worth toying with, how much more that of a servant of God like Daddy G.O. As an airline, we won’t compromise safety no matter the pressure.’’
Also, the Director-General, NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu, confirmed that the regulatory agency had suspended flights with the aircraft for safety reasons.
Nuhu said the NCAA does not often deal directly with individuals or owners of aircraft but the operator.
His word reads, “There are safety-related issues that must be resolved before the aircraft will be approved for resumption of flights. Safety is the paramount consideration in all approvals given by the NCAA. No matter what, we must not sacrifice safety for flights; that is the whole idea.”
However, the spokesperson for RCCG, Pastor Olaitan Olubiyi, said the matter was being resolved already.
“We will not want to take issue with the aviation authorities but I can assure you that an amicable solution is being found to the issue.” He said.
