The government of Akwa Ibom State has
confirmed that Godswill Akpabio like his
Rivers State counterpart, Governor Rotimi
Amaechi, also owns a brand new jet.
Akpabio took possession of the $45 million
jet in June 2012.
Responding to SaharaReporters inquiries,
Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Information,
Aniekan Ummanah, confirmed that Mr.
Akpabio bought the Gulfstream jet
manufactured in 2011, but insisted that that
it is Akwa Ibom State property.
As already published by SaharaReporters,
Governor Amaechi’s gleaming new toy is a
Bombardier Global 5000 (N565RS), which he
acquired for his exclusive use.
Governor Akpabio’s state of the art jet, which
carries FAA registration number N224BH,
was interestingly purchased by the same
Bank of Utah Trust account used by the
Rivers state government. The deal was
handled by a trust attorney at the bank and
delivered to Mr. Akpabio.
Records show that Governor Akpabio, whose
deputy resigned yesterday, has travelled
abroad in the jet regularly, especially to and
within the United States, since the
acquisition.
A flight tracking website provided the
following information regarding Mr. Akpabio's
penchant for traveling on the jet. These
flights do not show Nigeria movements:
Origin Destination
Departed
Arrival
28-Sep-2012 GLF4/Q Westchester
County (KHPN) Cologne Bonn (EDDK /
CGN) 11:50AM EDT 12:28AM CEST (+1)
(?) 6:38
28-Sep-2012 GLF4/Q Savannah/Hilton
Head Intl (KSAV) Westchester County
(KHPN) 07:00AM EDT 08:42AM EDT
1:42
24-Sep-2012 GLF4/Q Westchester
County (KHPN) Savannah/Hilton Head Intl
(KSAV) 11:23PM EDT 01:05AM EDT
(+1) 1:42
24-Sep-2012 GLF4/Q Dusseldorf Int'l
(EDDL / DUS) Westchester County
(KHPN) 08:20PM CEST 10:21PM EDT
8:01
06-Aug-2012 GLF4/Q Westchester
County (KHPN) Malaga (LEMG / AGP)
01:49PM EDT 02:42AM CEST (+1) (?)
6:53
05-Aug-2012 GLF4/Q William P Hobby
(KHOU) Westchester County (KHPN)
08:01PM CDT 12:06AM EDT (+1) 3:05
03-Aug-2012 GLF4/Q Dallas Love Field
(KDAL) William P Hobby (KHOU) 08:48AM
CDT 09:25AM CDT 0:37
01-Aug-2012 GLF4/Q William P Hobby
(KHOU) Dallas Love Field (KDAL) 03:53PM
CDT 04:35PM CDT 0:42
01-Aug-2012 GLF4/Q Dallas Love Field
(KDAL) William P Hobby (KHOU) 10:49AM
CDT 11:26AM CDT 0:37
29-Jul-2012 GLF4/Q William P Hobby
(KHOU) Dallas Love Field (KDAL) 10:05AM
CDT 10:47AM CDT 0:42
28-Jul-2012 GLF4/Q Bangor Intl (KBGR)
William P Hobby (KHOU) 01:40PM EDT
04:30PM CDT 3:50
28-Jul-2012 GLF4/Q Dusseldorf Int'l (EDDL /
DUS) Bangor Intl (KBGR) 11:44AM CEST
12:44PM EDT 7:00
It would be recalled that one week ago in Yola,
Adamawa State, Governor Danbaba Suntai of
Taraba State crashed a Cessna 208, 5N-BMJ, he
was flying personally at the time. He has since
been airlifted to Germany for treatment, his
injured passengers left in a local hospital.
These expensive jet-buying and flying stories
concerning Nigeria state governors provide
greater proof of muddled priorities, and
sometimes, outright corruption, in the
administration of the States, where the chief
executives and their inner circles live in
insensitive luxury despite the despicable general
condition of the average citizen. When they get
off their jets, they usually have waiting for them
all kinds of exotic cars and long convoys.
Sources told SaharaReporters that Mr. Suntai, an
aviation enthusiast, owns two aircraft and a
helicopter. Aviation sources also said he also owns
an airstrip in his village which he built with
embezzled state funds.
Governor Akpabio’s new jet puts him squarely
among Nigeria’s new jet set of top government
officials, connected businessmen and lavish-
spending pastors, among whom luxury private
jets are the new status symbol.
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