[UPDATED] FG releases Kano arms plane

The Federal Government has released the Russian Cargo
Aircraft which was intercepted by operatives of the
Nigerian Air Force at the Mallam Aminu Kano
International Airport, Kano on Saturday.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu,
announced the decision of the government in a press
briefing he jointly addressed with the Defence Attache of
France to Nigeria, Col. Mark Hubert, in Abuja on
Monday.
Amosu said that the Federal Government decided to
release the controversial aircraft following a clearance
with the French Government that the content of the
aircraft belonged to the French military.
The CAS said that it became necessary for the
government to release the aircraft because of the long
healthy relationship between Nigeria and France which
according to him remained very respected.
He added that France had been very supportive to
Nigeria and their relationship with the country was
valued.
He said that security forces at the Aminu Kano Airport
had to resort to the standard procedure of conducting
checks on the aircraft because it had no clearance to
operate at the airport even though the French
Government was given an annual block clearance by the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs to operate in the country.
According to him, the investigation into the aircraft became
necessary because a notification should have been issued by
France in spite of the block clearance if the aircraft’s
destination was Nigeria.
He explained that the notification was not issued because
the aircraft left Bangui, Central Africa Republic with
Ndjamena, Chad, as its destination, and had to land in
Kano because the airport in Chad was too busy at the
time.
He said, “A Antonio Aircraft with registration number
RA 820388 departed Bangui, Cental Africa Republic on
December 6, 2014 for Ndjamena, Chad. We had no
record of clearance of the aircraft to operate in Kano.
With the French Government, we do have a block
clearance for a year but the block clearance has some
exceptions.
“We have some elements that ought to be avoided: the
aircraft must not carry toxic waste; it must not carry
nuclear wastes, weapons troops and other controversial
equipment.
“We followed the standard procedure to check, and we
did not get adequate clarification from the crew. One of
the issues has to do with language.
“However, we just got clarification from the French that
the items on board belongs to the French military. We
respect that; we have a good relationship with the French
Government and we respect that. .. By this briefing, we
are releasing the aircraft…”
Amosu said that what happened in Kano was normal as
Nigeria like all the other countries had a responsibility to
check such a controversial aircraft to ensure that weapons
are not airlifted to foment trouble in other nations in this
era of terrorism.
Speaking also, the French Defence Attache in Nigeria,
Col. Hubert, said that the items aboard the aircraft were
used by the French military in Central Africa Republic
and were being taken to the French Central Operational
base in Ndjamena, for movement back home to France.
Hubert who stated that the aircraft was not carrying
arms and ammunition, said that the items on board the
aircraft included two gazelle helicopters, spare parts for
the aircraft, a rover car, which was corroborated by the
Air Chief.
Hubert assured Nigerians that the items were not meant
to be used against Nigeria as the French Government had
promised to assist Nigeria in the fight against the Boko
Haram and had been doing that since May, 2014.