DSS arrests politician who made ‘inciting comments’ at PDP rally

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested Ben Bako,
director, media and publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
campaign organisation., TheCable reports

TheCable understands that the secret police had earlier invited
Bako over “inciting comments” he made at a PDP rally in Kafancha,
earlier in the week.

Bako had told party members to deal with those who go against
the PDP during the election.

“The DSS invited him yesterday over the comments he made during
the PDP campaign in Kafanchan,” a top member of the party who did
not want to be quoted, said.

The source criticised the security agency, describing the act as
an attempt to muzzle opposition.

Abraham Catoh, spokesman of the PDP in the state, told TheCable
on Sunday morning that Bako was arrested when he honoured the
invitation and was flown to Abuja after two hours of grilling by
the DSS in Kaduna.

“We are addressing a press conference on this issue this
morning,” he said, declining further comments.

Peter Afunnaya, spokesman of the DSS, could not be reached as of
the time this report was filed.

The Buhari administration had warned against hate speech, saying
it will no longer tolerate such.

At a retreat in Aso Rock, two years ago, Vice-President Yemi
Osinbajo had described it as an act of terrorism, saying the
government intended to take the matter seriously.

“As I have said, we have drawn a line against hate speech, it
will not be tolerated, it will be taken as an act of terrorism and
all of the consequences will follow,” he had said.

“When leaders in communities that speak in such a manner to
create dissension or intimidate the population are quiet, they do a
great disservice to our unity, they do a great disservice to our
nation.”

NEMA Grounds Emergency Aircraft
… Hires Unqualified Expatriate to oversee Air
Wing

There are indications that the National Emergency Management
Agency (NEMA) can no longer support any air emergency response in
the country following the grounding of the agency’s air ambulance
and the Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopter by the current
Director-General, Engr Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja, PRNigeria can
authoritatively report.

Rather than relying on qualified and experienced Nigerian
pilots, Maihaja employed a foreigner to manage the sensitive air
operation unit of the agency for emergency management in the
country.

The air ambulance launched in February 2015 was meant to deliver
emergency healthcare and quick transportation of patients with
emergency cases.

Investigations and data obtained by PRNigeria also reveal that
the air ambulance was last flown on June 07, 2017 and now in need
of serious corrosion check, bench check, total overhaul, most
especially the landing gear.

An on-the-spot assessment of the Air Ambulance Service, a
12-passenger aircraft, marked 5N−EMS, the helicopter marked NEMA
rescue with 5N−NEM as its registration number, indicated that they
were in dire need of rehabilitation.

However, a top official at the Presidency who do not want his
name in print confided in PRNigeria that elder statesmen Dr Maitama
Sule and former Vice-President Chief Dr Alex Ekwueme now of blessed
memories all approached NEMA for air ambulance service when they
were seriously sick and needed to be flown abroad but were turned
down due to the fact that the Air worthiness certificate and
insurance of the aircraft had expired owing to the negligence of
the Director General.

“The aircraft were in very good condition before the emergence
of Engr Maihaja as the new helmsman in 2017 when they were deployed
for medical evacuation, rescue operations and clandestine security
operations and even flown to the agency’s headquarters and the
trauma centre at the National Hospital,” said the official.

The Nigerian Pilot who headed the airwing department, Captain
Ibrahim Mamman Ali was sudden suspended with other directors in the
agency by Maihaja in clear disobedience to National Assembly
resolutions recalling them.

Captain Mamman-Ali ensured that the aircrafts were in perfect
condition with all procedures moving smoothly including remittance
of revenue generated through commercial operations into NEMA
Treasury Single Account (TSA).

Among activities carried out by erstwhile head of the airwing
include but not limited to covert security operations and
evacuation of wounded Nigerians including security officers most
especially when Maiduguri airport was closed as the Boko Haram
insurgency raged.

Meanwhile, in flagrant disobedience to Public Service rules and
regulations and in violation of Executive Order 003 recently signed
by Mr. President, Engr Mustapha Maihaja has gone ahead to hire a
foreigner not qualified as engineer or pilot to overhaul the
airwing of the agency.

The new head of the airwing. Mr Alex Elk Van has a business
administration qualification and has been mandated to oversee the
operations of the airwing of NEMA with a whooping salary of over
$10,000 monthly when all the NEMA’s aircraft for emergency
management in the country have been grounded.

The certificates of airworthiness and insurance for the two
aircrafts have expired, and they are parked outside the hanger of
Nigerian Police Air Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International
Airport, Abuja, daily beaten by sun and rain.

It costs between N140 million and N150 million to renew the
insurance for the air ambulance and the helicopter since they were
purchased brand new.

In line with Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Standards
and Procedures, aircrafts must be serviceable and must undergo a
periodic maintenance and test flight carried out before procedure
of renewal of certificate of airworthiness can commence.

By PRNigeria