Executive Jet Services Limited, on Tuesday, tendered an unreserved apology to the Federal Government for transporting a popular musician, Azeez Fashola, also known as Naira Marley. Chairman of the airline, Dr Sam Iwuajoku, said on Tuesday in Lagos, that a letter of apology was sent through the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika.
Iwuajoku said that the company transported Naira Marley, instead of Justice Adefope Okogie, whose name was on the approval given by the aviation minister, who had on Monday, announced an indefinite suspension of the airline for flying Naira Marley from Lagos to Abuja.
“Well, we approved the flight, but not for any musician. The flight, from the application, was to convey Hon. Justice Adefope Okogie from Lagos to Abuja and back to Lagos, for an official assignment”, Sirika had explained.
While apologizing for the error, Iwuajoku said it was a case of mistaken identity, as names on the passenger manifest for the flight did not indicate Azeez Fashola as a passenger. “So, on Saturday morning, my staff called and told me that they have a charter flight to Abuja and that the passengers were already at the lounge.
“As a rule, passengers’ manifest is always sent to me before any departure. When I went through the manifest and I saw Fashola Babatunde, I thought it was the Minister of Works going to Abuja with his men; so, we decided to do the flight, since he is a serving Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Therefore, we are sorry for this mistake, and we promise that it will not happen again.”
Iwuajoku said it was the approval already secured for the transportation of Okoji, who was already in Abuja that was used to transport Babatunde who later turned out to be Naira Marley and his entourage. He added that the judge was contacted on Saturday for the Sunday flight and he said he was already in Abuja.
