- The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has awarded a fine of N11m to a British firm, Gama Aviation, for allegedly flying its Bombardier Global Express plane into and within Nigeria illegally.
- Consequently,the affected company has paid N7m fine to the NCAA and another $20,000 (N3.9m) to the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency.
- Following the payment of the fines, the Nigerian aviation regulator on Tuesday said it had released the aircraft to leave the country for the United Kingdom.
- The NCAA had on Monday said it impounded the Bombardier jet for allegedly carrying out illegal flights in the country.
- The Acting General Manager, Public Affairs, NCAA, Mr. Sam Adurogboye, said following the agency’s investigation of the illegal operation of the firm, a letter of sanction was written to the operator into the aircraft as regards the sanctions imposed on it.
The NCAA letter read, “In the light of the above, you are hereby sanctioned in accordance with the provisions of section 1 .3.3A and Section B of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCAR) 2009 and you are required to pay within seven days on the date of receiving this letter the sum of N7m, being the total civil penalty for the above violation.”
- According to Adurogboye, in line with the NCAR, the aircraft was released after paying the necessary fine.