Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA), has said that the sanctions initiated against five airlines recently were for consumer protection-related infractions, and not for safety concerns.

Recalled that two weeks ago, Michael Achimugu, director, Consumer Protection and Public Affairs, NCAA , issued a warning that any airline that delays the payment of refunds to passengers within the stipulated time frame in Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023, will be sanctioned.

A week later, the Regulatory agency announced that it had initiated enforcement action against Royal Air Maroc, Ethiopian Airways, Air Peace, Arik Air, and Aero Contractors.

Furthermore, Capt. Chris Najomo, acting director-general, NCAA, called an emergency stakeholder meeting to find lasting solutions to flight delays and cancellations, where he advised operators to trim their operations according to the number of aircraft they have and to treat consumer complaints with the desired urgency.

Reacting to the announcement, Allen Onyema, chairman of Air Peace, said he had noticed that some of his finance staff actually delayed some of those payments and he was not happy about it as his vision does not align with any practice that inconveniences his passengers.

He accepted the NCAA’s enforcement action and said the airline would improve its response time to such complaints.

Reports on some media platforms however suggested that the airlines may have been sanctioned for much more than just flight disruption issues.

In a statement sent in by Mr. Achimugu, he said, “Even the DGCA publicly announced at a stakeholders meeting in Lagos, the names of the airlines, and the reasons for the enforcement actions. My department is strictly for consumer protection issues, not technical matters. So why would anyone think that i can sanction an airline for safety reasons?”

“It is important to note that we do not sensationalise serious issues. The department protects both the operators and passengers and will continue to be an unbiased umpire,” He concluded.

Leo Stan Ekeh, chairman, Zinox Group, urged Nigerian entrepreneurs to prioritise integrity, due diligence, and resilience in navigating the country’s challenging business landscape.

In an end-of-year inspirational talk to a select group of young Nigerian entrepreneurs, monitored in Lagos, Ekeh expressed optimism about Nigeria’s economic prospects, predicting an economic rebound by the third quarter of 2025.

He also warned the young entrepreneurs about the rising threat of corporate blackmail, drawing from his own experiences in the business world.

Ekeh recounted his decade-long battle with corporate blackmail involving Benjamin Joseph, CEO, Citadel Oracle Concepts Ltd.

Recall that the controversy dates back to 2012, when Citadel Oracle Concepts Ltd. was among 13 companies awarded a Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) contract for the supply of HP laptops.

Procurement for the project was mandated through authorised distributors. TD Africa, a subsidiary of the Zinox Group and Nigeria’s largest HP partner, was approached by Citadel’s authorised representative, Princess Kama, to supply the laptops on credit.

The arrangement required FIRS payments to be deposited into a dedicated Citadel account at Access Bank, with TD Africa staff included as signatories to ensure adherence to the agreed terms.

While other companies honored similar agreements, disputes arose when Benjamin Joseph allegedly attempted to divert funds.

Princess Kama intervened, enabling TD Africa to recover its dues.

This intervention strained the relationship between Joseph and Kama, leading to a series of petitions and allegations by Joseph against TD Africa and Zinox Group.

Ekeh revealed that the allegations prompted extensive investigations, including the involvement of foreign-certified detectives, adding that, “These investigations, along with inquiries by the FIRS and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), exonerated TD Africa, confirming the validity of the transactions.

They also established that Joseph had authorised the procurement and that the laptops were delivered and payments duly processed.

“In February 2021, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court dismissed Joseph’s allegations as baseless and awarded N20 million in damages against him. Despite the court ruling, Joseph persisted in filing petitions and spreading misinformation through media outlets, targeting Zinox Technologies and its leadership.”

Speaking on the impact on Zinox’s operations, Ekeh disclosed that Joseph’s actions, allegedly backed by competitors and influential allies, nearly jeopardised Zinox’s digital census contract, valued at over $250 million.

Although Zinox eventually secured and delivered the project, delays prevented its execution under the previous administration, leaving critical census equipment underutilised, he stated.

Expressing disappointment in recent judicial decisions that have not held Joseph accountable, Ekeh lamented, “It is disheartening that despite valid and subsisting judgments, he continues to walk free, perpetuating false claims.”

He urged young entrepreneurs to stay vigilant against blackmailers, emphasising the critical role of integrity and technological advancements in overcoming such challenges.

“Learn from my experience. Never engage with blackmailers, as technology will soon render them obsolete in the tech ecosystem,” Ekeh advised.

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Mrs Joy Enwa, the Accountant General of Delta State, in connection with the alleged misappropriation of N1.3 trillion linked to former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

The EFCC is investigating funds reportedly diverted from the 13 percent derivation allocation intended for oil-producing states. Alongside Mrs Enwa, the anti-graft agency has questioned other officials, including a former Director of Finance and Administration and a senior Government House staff member.

EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale confirmed the arrest, stating, “Mrs Enwa was detained for questioning over the ongoing investigation into the mismanagement of state funds under the former administration. Some other government officials have also been interrogated.”

Mrs Enwa, who was appointed Accountant General by Okowa in 2020, previously served as Deputy Accountant General under Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.

She had earlier faced allegations of involvement in a N369 million fraud case in 2015, which implicated other state officials and bank representatives.

The ongoing investigation has also uncovered assets allegedly tied to the fraud, including shares in UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas Company and investments in the oil sector.

Former Governor Okowa was detained by the EFCC in November at the agency’s Port Harcourt office over accusations of diverting state funds for personal enrichment.

When approached for comments, Mrs Enwa declined to elaborate, saying, “I am not the right source to confirm this story. Please contact the EFCC for clarification.” The EFCC continues its probe into what could be one of the largest financial scandals in Delta State’s history.