Mathew Amaechi
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has denied involvement in the alleged sale of Nigerian-registered aircraft to Iran and has launched an investigation. Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, dismissed the allegations as unfounded and emphasized the need for a thorough investigation.
“These are weighty allegations that have been made. So, the natural course of justice is to investigate these allegations. And you do not investigate any such story without speaking to the parties that have been named,” Achimugu stated.
The controversy surrounds two Nigerian-registered aircraft, an Airbus A340-600 and a Boeing 737-300, allegedly smuggled to Iran’s Mahan Air by Azman Air. The aircraft were reportedly sold in violation of international sanctions against Iran.
Achimugu clarified that for such sales to occur, the aircraft would need to be deregistered in Nigeria, which has not happened. “We have not been involved in the sales of any aircraft. To sell such aircraft, they need to have been deregistered here in Nigeria, being Nigerian-registered aircraft. That has not been done here,” he stated.
Reports alleged that Nigerian-registered aircraft have been sold without proper documentation. This came after a report about a controversial aircraft recently smuggled from Nigeria to Iran. The two Nigerian registered aircraft were smuggled to Iran by Azman Air.
These planes are currently stored in Tehran at Imam Khomeini International Airport and Mehrabad Airport in Iran. They were allegedly sold to an Iranian airline in violation of international sanctions against Iran.
The NCAA has contacted the Civil Aviation Authority of Iran tto clarify the alleged deactivation of transponders on some aircraft. Achimugu assured the public that the findings would be made public.
