A fresh allegation of fraud has rocked Ibom Airlines, an airline company owned by the Akwa Ibom State Government, with former Governor Udom Emmanuel at the center of the controversy.
According to Fejiro Oliver, a prominent activist, Ibom Airlines was not floated in 2018 as claimed by Udom Emmanuel, but was actually established on February 21, 2013, by former Governor Godswill Akpabio.
Oliver alleged that the airline’s accounts were used to siphon state funds, with N1.5 billion sent to the airline’s account on November 2, 2018, and another N1.5 billion on November 7, 2018. He also claimed that N2.575 billion was sent to the airline’s account on November 14, 2018, and immediately wired offshore to AVMAX Aircraft Leasing Inc.
“The planes were initially leased to the state government and not bought,” Oliver said. “The monies moved offshore were converted to dollars at the then exchange rate of N360.”
Oliver also raised questions about the ownership structure of Ibom Airlines, noting that Akwa Ibom Investment Corporation, which owns majority shares, is an inactive Public Service Company (PSC), while an unnamed individual is an active PSC.
Furthermore, Oliver alleged that N5 billion was paid as a deed of legal charge in respect of provision of banking facilities for the acquisition of two Bombardier CRJ 900 Aircraft in September 2021, and questioned whether the state government had borrowed money to purchase the aircraft despite having funds available.
Oliver vowed to take the matter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), saying, “I have one life and I will put it on the line for 10 million Akwa Ibomites.”
