Following claims and counterclaims over importation and operations of Rivers state Government aircraft, Caverton Helicopters management during the week, explained that it disengaged its services from the operations of the aircraft after the State government agreed that it will be operating the aircraft since February 2012.
The airline said , ‘Caverton disclaimed responsibility for the aircraft as far back as February 2013 following exchange of mails between the company and EuroControl that the aircraft was being operated by Rivers government. “Tosin Odulaja, pilot of the plane said in the mails to Eurocontrol that Rivers was in charge of the plane and all bills should be sent to him. So it is strange that Rivers is now saying pressure was put on Caverton Helicopters to disown them in late April 2013, when both parties had agreed in February 2013 that it was Rivers that was operating the aircraft. Nothing could be farther from the truth”, said.
It added that “Caverton has not been involved with the aircraft since. CH was never involved in the requests for temporary importation (clearance as visiting plane) for the aircraft. However, Caverton discovered that its name and letterhead had been used by Rivers and its agents to apply for clearance permit since January 2013.
The airline claims follows Odulaja position to the House of Representatives panel that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) officials were only asking for the clearance for the aircraft to operate in the country and never told him that it was the manifest problem before it was grounded.
Shola Falola, Accountable Manager, Caverton Helicopters, had admitted before the House committee that the company actually wrote NCAA to seek permission for the purchase and importation of the aircraft in question for the Rivers State government and had been operating clearances for its operation and, as well, paid all aviation dues as required by law, until recently when they (Caverton) put an end to the transaction.
