The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), said he has not left the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja since March 22.
Fashola offered the explanation in a statement by his media aide, Hakeem Bello, following the appearance of his name on the manifest of a flight from Lagos to Abuja by Executive Jet Services Limited on Saturday.
The Chairman/CEO of Executive Jets Services Limited, Dr. Sam Iwuajoku, had said in a letter to the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, after the suspension of his airlines service, that he thought Fashola was scheduled to board the flight to Abuja and not hip hop star, Azeez Fashola, also known as Naira Marley, who was on the flight.
Bello said in the statement: “The attention of the Office of the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, has been drawn to a letter signed by the Chairman/CEO of Executive Jets Services Limited, Dr Sam Iwuajoku concerning a flight it operated to Abuja last weekend.
“For purposes of clarity and in order to set the records straight, the Hon. Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, has not travelled out of Abuja since March 22, 2020, when he returned there after an inspection tour of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway construction work and a visit to Lagos, before the lockdown.
“The decision of the Hon. Minister not to travel was taken in strict compliance with the Federal Government’s ban on inter-state travels as part of efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is therefore ridiculous for Dr Iwuajoku to attempt to link the Hon. Minister with any noncompliant flight.”
Marley had also on Tuesday said the Babatunde Fashola on the manifest was his brother, Moshood Babatunde Fashola.
He said the airline was not unaware of the identities of those flying as they have made use of its services several times.