A former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, has admitted that he bought the two Bell armoured helicopters seized by the Nigeria Customs Service and handed over to the Nigeria Air Force on Friday.
The NCS had at the handing over to the NAF said it has not been able to establish the ownership of the helicopters.
And then on Saturday, the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, in a statement, said Amaechi used Rivers State Government’s fund to purchase the helicopters.
Reacting to the development in a statement on Sunday, Amaechi, now the Minister of Transport, admitted he bought the helicopters when he was at the helm of affairs in Rivers State.
He said approval for the purchase of the choppers was given by the government of former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, through the office of the National Security Adviser.
He said to show the commitment of the Jonathan regime, Rivers State was supported with $15 million by the Federal Government, adding that it was at the height of the insecurity in the State.
The statement said: “With a strong political will to tackle these menace and make the State a safe place, Amaechi initiated a lot of measures to deal with the menace.
“Purchasing these helicopters was one of the measures the Amaechi administration took to curb the clandestine and criminal activities in the state.
“And the decision to go for these helicopters was based on the advice and recommendation of security experts and specialists that were working closely with our Nigerian security agents to rid the state of these criminals – kidnappers, pipeline vandals, vicious political cultists etc.
“Sequel to the recommendation of security experts, the Rivers State Government bought the two Bell 412 security surveillance helicopters during the administration of Amaechi, in collaboration with the federal government through the office of the National Security Adviser.
“To show their support, the Federal government through the office of the NSA contributed $15m, about half of the total sum, towards the purchase of the helicopters. Also, the then former President Goodluck Jonathan administration granted waivers to the Rivers State government to purchase and import the helicopters.”
But when the helicopters arrived from the United States of America, the Federal Government, according to the statement, started singing a different tune.
The statement added: “However, trouble started many months later when the helicopters became ready for the Rivers State Government to take possession of them and use to fight crime and the criminals in the land and creeks of the State.
“The President Goodluck Jonathan administration frustrated and rebuffed all attempts by Amaechi and the Rivers State government to take possession of the helicopters.
“Note that the said helicopters were partly funded by the Federal Government and that would be operated and managed by federal security agencies in collaboration with the Rivers State government.”
According to the statement, “outrageous import imposed on the two helicopters delayed their clearance”.
It added: “This strange twist was most baffling to the Rivers State government. Many would recall that, Amaechi as Governor of Rivers State at different times cried out, spoke loudly about the refusal of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration to allow the Rivers State government takes possession of the security surveillance helicopters.
“It was about security, the safety of lives and properties, but the Jonathan administration refused and bluntly blocked the Rivers State government from taking possession of the helicopters.
“The same helicopters the Federal Government had months back, partly funded and had granted approvals and waivers for the purchase and importation into the country.”
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