10th July, 2011
A private jet clashlanded earling this morning at the Benin Airport.
The jet is said to be owned by Senator Andy Uba of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who was also a former aide to President Olusegun Obasanjo. He is now a serving Senator from Anambra State.
The plane with registration number BNX 5N had three persons on board when the incident happened.
Report available to the P.M.NEWS has it that the plane crashed due to poor visibility as a result of cloudy weather and the torrential rain that has been falling in Benin in the past one week.
Following the incident, Benin Airport was shut down for several hours. This delayed air travelers that were returning to their various stations after the weekend holidays. Prominent among the stranded passengers were Pastor Mrs. Margret Adeboye, wife of Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God; Mr Alex Iziyon(SAN), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Professor Friday Okhonofua of the University of Benin, Delta State Deputy Governor, Professor Amos Utuama, Patrick Ikadiale a House of Representatives member, and Chris Umugbia, former member of Edo state House of Assembly.
Andy Uba was delayed until he hired a private jet with registration number N66 4AC that eventually took him away at 4.15 p.m.
As at the time of filing this report the plane was still at the extreme wing of the tarmac.
The Benin Airport manager, Mr. Ben Ogunle, declined to comment on the incident. There was no response when a call was put through to the Lagos office of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN.
By Yomi Obaditan- Benin City