Management of Medview Airlines Plc has debunked the allegations of involvement of the airline in a scam or diversion of funds during the 2019 airlift of pilgrims to holy lands in Saudi Arabia.
The airline, in a statement by its Executive Director, Commercial Development, Alhaji Isiaq Na’allh, said it wanted to clarify issues over the allegation of scam following the invitation of the CEO, Alhaji Muneer Bankole by Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) on its contract with National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) in 2019.
to shed light on the airline Hajj Operations contract with National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
The airline said there was no scam or diversion of funds meant for the 2019 Hajj airlift.
It insisted that the funds were utilized for necessary preparations including aircraft maintenance and payment to service providers.
Specifically, the airline pointed to the much touted $900,000, saying NAHCON paid the money directly to two service providers in Saudi Arabia namely General Authority of Aviation ($400,000 and Taibah Airports Development Company ($500,000) on July 5, 2019.
It affirmed that against all odds, the airline airlifted a total 4,387 pilgrims from Kaduna, Yobe and Ogun States which could be confirmed from the Pilgrims boards of the mentioned states.
“In spite of deft moves by some highly placed persons to frustrate the airline from the operations with late release of funds, Medview Airline airlifted 4,387 pilgrims from Kaduna, Yobe and Ogun States. The Pilgrims Boards in those states are living witnesses of the operation,” Medveiw said.
It added that a Presidential Committee was set up to reconcile the differences in payment and number of pilgrims airlifted by the airline.
“In line with the terms of the contract with NAHCON, a Presidential committee was raised to reconcile the differences in payment to Medview Airline and the number of pilgrims airlifted, and this later metaphorized into a Ministerial Committee, where all issues were resolved,” it added..
The airline which said it has resolved to return to its leadership roles in airlifts of pilgrims in Nigeria, claimed it was estranged to it to hear someone making noise over a none existing issue.
“It is therefore strange for somebody to wake up and go to the rooftop armed with trumpets and cymbal for a non-existent scam or diversion of funds all to smear Medview Airline Plc.
“Medview Airline is resolute to return to its leadership role in Hajj operations,” it affirmed.
