Medview Airline speaks on $900k 2019 Hajj fund controversies

By Yunus Yusuf

Medview Airline Plc has insisted that $900,000 it collected for 2019 Hajj were utilised for necessary preparations including aircraft maintenance and payment to service providers.

The airline’s Executive Director, Business Development, Mr Isiaq Na-Allah, said this in a statement issued in Lagos on Friday while reacting to allegation that Medview was diverted funds meant for the 2019 Hajj transportation.

The allegation followed recent invitation of the CEO, Alhaji Muneer Bankole, by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

But Na-Allah said the invitation was to shed light on the airline’s Hajj Operations contract with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

He said: “Specifically, out of the much touted $900,000, 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.

“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.

“In line with the terms of the contract with NAHCON, a Presidential committee was raised to reconcile the differences in payment to the airline and the number of pilgrims airlifted, and this later metaphosed into a Ministerial Committee, where all issues were resolved,” the statement read in part.

Na-Allah therefore said it was “strange for somebody to wake up and go to the rooftop, armed trumpets and cymbal for a non-existent scam or diversion of funds all to smear Medview Airline Plc”.

He noted that the airline was resolute to return to its leadership role in Hajj operations.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the EFCC on Feb. 2 questioned the Medview Airline Managing Director, Muneer Bankole, for alleged fraud.

Bankole was detained at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, after an invitation by investigators.

The matter is a case of alleged diversion, which Bankole was accused of retaining 50 per cent of funds paid by NAHCON. (NAN)