A private jet belonging to the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye has been suspended from Flying by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Reports say that the aircraft, AugustoWestland AW139 chopper which currently sits in its hanger at the Lagos Airport, with registration number 5N-EAA was suspended from flying 2 weeks ago as a result of some expired documents and spare parts.
Officials say that the suspension would allow the NCAA conduct vital security checks on its safety-critical components, particularly some spare parts due for replacement.
Pastor Adeboye had, during a meeting with ordained Pastors and Ministers of the RCCG Region 21, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital complained that he arrived late because someone had requested a bribe from him to enable him fly his private jet.
He therefore called for drastic measures to reduce the spate of bribery in the country. Pastor Adeboye added that he decided to use his jet because of the traffic gridlock on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
According to him, “I don’t give excuses because I have discovered long ago that only failures give excuses, but you must pray for Nigeria.
“Something must be done about corruption in this nation. All I can say is that I am this late because somebody wanted a bribe. And you know if you are expecting a bribe form me, you have to wait for ever.
“But the devil has failed. And the devil will continue to fail. I decided to come by helicopter so that there won’t be a traffic jam that would tie me down on the expressway because I know what the devil could do.
“Then, I ran into something else. But by the grace of God, we are here.”
An official of the NCAA who spoke under conditions of anonymity , said that safety concerns caused them to suspend the use of the private jet until all the concerns are handled.
The regulators then sought and got Bishop David Oyedepo’s own jet jet with which the 74-year-old renowned Christian cleric travelled.
According to a top official, who is familiar with the operations of both aircrafts, “The team relating directly with Daddy G O should have told the man of God on time that the NCAA had not clear his chopper and as such, it couldn’t go on the Ibadan trip.
“They shouldn’t have waited till the last minute. The NCAA, we have is now different from what it used to be. A new man in charge always insists that things must be done properly as far as the safety of lives is concerned.
“The Church’s protocol team should have told him that the NCAA has not cleared the aircraft and it may not clear it within a short time because certain procedures must be followed. As such, an alternative arrangement should have been made.“
According to a NAMA official who also preferred anonymity, “On that last Saturday morning, when it later became obvious that the jet was not cleared to fly, they had to make an alternative arrangement with Bishop Oyedepo’s chopper.
“They had to quickly begin that process by filing the flight plan, etc. It was Bishop’s aircraft that Pastor Adeboye later flew to the event. He could not use his own.”
Bishop Oyedepo is the Founder and Presiding Bishop of the megachurch Faith Tabernacle in Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria, and Living Faith Church Worldwide, also known as Winners’ Chapel International.
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