Outrage over Wike’s arrest, detention of Caverton pilots

• FG set to intervene, pilot body slams Gov.
• Caverton’s plea rebuffed

There are indications that the Federal Government has opened discussions with the Rivers State Government with the possibility of releasing the two Caverton Helicopter pilots who are currently languishing in jail.

It is not clear as at press time if the River State Government would accede to out of court settlement with the pilots.

A source told Woleshadarenews that the Ministry of Aviation has reached out to the government maintaining that the duo and their firm got permission to operate into the city yesterday.

Tempter seemed to have flayed over the arrest of the plots by a cross section of aviation professionals who maintained that Governor Nyesom Wike overreached himself for exercising power in a territory (Airport) outside his control.

Aviation consultant, Mr. Chris Azu Aligbe said the governor appears not to know the status of an international airport and the underpinning  protocols..

“Besides, Port-Harcourt airport is Federal government property and territory and therefore not within his authority. If it were a state airport like Uyo or Asaba it would be different.  Also had Wike acted outside the airport environ he would be right. Somebody should educate Wike. The Governor should be sued by Caverton for illegal detention and damages”. he added.

Former Commandant, Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, Group Capt. John Ojikutu (Rtd) described what is unfolding in Rivers State as a deliberate test of the country’s constitution, if the pilots truly have a   permit to fly from federal aviation authorities.

His words, “Let us remember that even Wike’s stay at home order allows for some exemptions regarding essential services. The pilots are saying they secured permission to seeing that the permission fly is well within federal law especially if they fall within essential services.

“Airports are federal facilities even if built by State Governments. Having flown people from one federal facility to the other only, they did not violate any state law. If the people they flew in went into the city and moved around in contravention of the law, then it is those persons that have violated state law and not the pilots.

Two Caverton pilots who were arrested on Tuesday for allegedly violating an order by the Rivers State Government on closure of all borders including the airspace, have been remanded in prison custody for flying in expatriates into the state.

The two pilots identified as Samuel Urgoji and Samuel Buhari, were arraigned in a Chief Magistrate Court on 4 count charge which bordered on disobeying the Executive Order issued by the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike aimed at checking the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

Meanwhile, the umbrella body for all pilots and aircraft engineers in Nigeria under the aegis of National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) has come to the defence of the two pilots who are languishing in the Port-Harcourt Correctional centre, noting that the flight was duly authorized.

President, NAAPE, Galadima Abednego told journalists that, ‘At this juncture NAAPE deems the actions of Rivers state government as an unwarranted attack on our members”.

He stated that it  is left with no other option than to demand and immediate release of the pilots and an apology from the Executive Governor of Rivers state failing which, he said will direct all pilots both local and International to boycott flying into Rivers state now and post lock down

Caverton Helicopters has appealed to Wike to release the pilots, adding that they got approval to operate the flight for which the pilots were apprehended.

Caverton management in their appeal titled Unjust Detention of Caverton Pilot stated,” At the start of the COVID -19 lockdown, we received a letter from our client stating that they have been given approval/ exemption to fly and continue operations.

“We (Caverton along with three other companies) also received approval from the Minister of Aviation to fly only essential services, mainly in the Oil and Gas industry. Lastly, we got another approval from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to fly for this same oil and gas sector. We have been flying along these guidelines for the past seven days”.

“Despite all pleas by our lawyers who showed all the relevant documents, they were taken to the magistrate court and charged. At the court, our lawyers also presented all the documentations approving us to fly by the federal government but the case was closed and the pilots have been remanded in Port Harcourt prison till the May 19th.