Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday, visited Arik Air’s headquarters in Lagos, halted administrative activities, and arrested the airline’s chief pilot, Victor Egonu.
According to the airline, the EFCC’s visit was on the grounds that the airline is irregular in its tax payments.
The media representative for Arik, Banji Ola, confirmed the arrest. “The anti-graft agency personnel have since left, but have taken away our chief pilot, Captain Victor Egonu,” he said.
He further disclosed that the carrier’s normal operations were affected.
An effort to get the EFCC spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, to comment on the incident was not successful, as his phone was busy at press time.
Arik Air has been in the news lately for its decision to protest the handover of the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) to Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited.
The airline accused Bi-Courtney of wanting to impose a monopoly on the sector, saying the matter was being challenged in court, and all parties were expected to stay action until it was resolved, threatening to halt its services if the federal government failed to reverse the planned handover.
Employees of various aviation unions took to the streets in protest, and the senate aviation committee moved to suspend the action. However, the terminal was handed over by the aviation at about 6.30pm on Saturday, September 19.
Bi-Courtney, on its part, insists that its concession agreement with the federal government gives it rights over all domestic flights in Lagos. “Exclusivity is a feature of any concession contract and not private monopoly. Exclusivity is one of the safeguard to ensure returns for the concessionaire,” it said.
Upon the handover, Arik’s acting managing director, Chris Ndulue, backtracked on the original threat to halt operations, saying the airline had a duty of care to its passengers.
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