NEMA Pilot Arraigned For Diverting Over N91 Million, Money Meant For Taking Care Of The Fleets, Including Airbus And Air Ambulance

NEMA Pilot Arraigned For Diverting Over N91 Million, Money Meant For Taking Care Of The Fleets, Including Airbus And Air Ambulance

EFCC has arraigned one Mamman Ali Ibrahim before Justice A. I. Kutigi
of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, sitting in
Gwagwalada, on a two-count charge, bordering on criminal breach of
trust.

Ibrahim, who served as a pilot in charge of Air Ambulance Aviation
Unit and Helicopter Emergencies Service with the National Emergency
Management Agency, NEMA, is alleged to have diverted over N91 million,
money meant for taking care of the fleets, including Airbus, Air
ambulance and the Helicopter.

His journey to the dock on February 7, 2019, followed a petition to
the office of the Vice President, which was forwarded to the office of
the acting EFCC Chairman, for investigation.

Investigations revealed that Ibrahim commercialised both the
ambulance and the helicopter. He, however, claimed that the directive to
commercialise them came from the office of a former vice president and a
former Accountant General of the Federation, AGF. 
Further investigations also revealed that the total sum of N285 million
was realized from the commercialisation of the aircraft, while N63
million was paid to the AGF.

It was also gathered that N11 million was paid to NEMA, while the
balance was yet to be accounted for.  According to the petition, over
N4million was paid into the account of Aerocare West Africa Limited, a
company belonging to the defendant, which he transferred to his family
members.

One of the counts reads in part: “That you, Mamman Ali Ibrahim,
whilst being employed in the public service and serving as a pilot in
charge of Air Ambulance Aviation Unit and Helicopter Emergencies
Services with the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, between
2014 and 2015, at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable
Court, while being entrusted with dominion over money, to wit, the sum
of N64,550,810 (Sixty Four Million, Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand,
Eight Hundred and Ten Naira) only, being part of the proceeds realized
from the commercialization of the aircraft belonging to NEMA”.

He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges. In view of his plea,
prosecuting counsel, Deborah Ademu-Eteh, asked the court for a trial
date. Defence counsel, Aduojo Abah, however, moved the motion for the
bail of his client.

Ademu-Eteh opposed the application, urging the court to “consider the
severity of the punishment and the character of the evidence before the
court”. After listening to all the arguments, Justice Kutigi granted
him bail in the sum of N50 million with one surety in like sum.

The surety being a public servant not lower than level 14, must be a
resident within the jurisdiction. The case has been adjourned to April
10, 2019, for trial.