CBN's Godwin Emefiele Violates Flight Ban, Secretly Flies Family To UK On N3.8m Executive Jets

Rules are made for the poor not the rich was the case of Godwin Emefiele, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) after he allegedly flew his wife and children out of Nigeria to the United Kingdom on Executive Jets, violating the ban on flights across Nigerian airspace.

The jet conveyed Mrs Margaret Emefiele and his sons – Godwin Pammichukwu Jnr. and Andrew Olisehike Emefiele from Nigeria on Monday, June 1, 2020 at about 8pm (Nigerian time) and arrived in the UK at 2:37am, according to an exclusive report by SaharaReporters. The flight had been operated despite the directive from President Muhammadu Buhari, banning incoming and outgoing flights across Nigeria.

The ban on flights had been ordered following the outbreak of coronavirus in Nigeria. The first and many other COVID-19 confirmed cases that were recorded in Nigeria were from a foreigner and Nigerians that travelled into the country from Italy, the UK and other Western countries. Currently, Nigeria has 22,020 confirmed cases, 7,613 persons discharged and 542 deaths recorded.

N3.8m Spent On Non-Essential Flight

Only essential flights allowed across Nigerian airspace are humanitarian flights and flights conveying medical supplies. But Emefiele's family were still able to fly out of Nigeria on a Global Express Bombardier 550 luxury jet with registration number N104DA.

AllNews learnt that to book the Executive Jet per hour, it costs at least $10,000, that's about N3.8 million - and flight from Nigeria to the UK is over 6 hours. The purpose of the flight was not stated, but neither was it an emergency or essential flight.

Executive Jets Has A Knack For Violation

Executive Jets has been involved in flight that violates the non-essential flight ban. Executive Jets was the same airline used by popular Nigerian singer, Naira Marley, from Lagos to a show at Jabi Lake Mall in Abuja. The show was heavily criticised, with the Federal Government stating that actions will be taken against those who violated the lockdown rules.

The Chairman/CEO of Executive Jet Services, Sam Iwuajoku in an apology letter to the Minister of Aviation, stated that the airline thought Naira Marley was Babatunde Fashola, the current Minister of Works and Housing, as the passenger manifest carried the name Fashola Babatunde. Naira Marley said the name was that of his brother.

Now, the Executive Jets - which is owned by billionaire businessman, Aliko Dangote - is involved in another violation flight. While other private and commercial airline companies have been grounded by the lockdown rules, Executive Jets have been operating freely.