2019 Hajj funds not diverted, says Med-View Airline

Med-View Airline Plc has disclosed that the funds meant for the 2019 Hajj were utilised for necessary preparations including aircraft maintenance and payment to service providers.

Recall that chief executive officer of the airline, Muneer Bankole on January 31 was invited for questioning by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged fraud.

Bankole was reportedly detained at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja.

He was said to have received funds from the National Hajj Commission, and additional $900,000, for the airlift of pilgrims in 2019 but failed to use execute the contract.

But in a statement on Friday, Isiaq Na-Allah, the airline’s executive director of business development, denied that Medview was involved in a scam or diversion of funds meant for the 2019 Hajj transportation.

Na-Allah said the CEO’s invitation for questioning by the EFCC was to shed light on the airline’s Hajj operations contract with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

“Specifically, out of the much touted $900,000, NAHCON paid the money directly to two service providers in Saudi Arabia, namely General Authority of Aviation ($400,000 and Taibah Airports Development Company ($500,000), on July 5, 2019,” he said.

“In spite of deft moves by some highly placed persons to frustrate the airline from the operations with late release of funds, Medview Airline airlifted 4,387 pilgrims  from Kaduna, Yobe and Ogun States.

“The Pilgrims Boards in those states are living witnesses of the operation.

“In line with the terms of the contract with NAHCON, a Presidential committee was raised to reconcile the differences in payment to the airline and the number of pilgrims airlifted, and this later metaphosed into a Ministerial Committee, where all issues were resolved.

“Therefore, it is strange for somebody to wake up and go to the rooftop, armed with trumpets and cymbal for a non-existent scam or diversion of funds all to smear Medview Airline Plc.”

He added that the airline is resolute to return to its leadership role in Hajj operations.