An helicopter belonging to Aero Contractors was on Tuesday seized by the Enugu State government for landing at the Governor’s Lodge without approval.
A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity said the incident cause panic at the government house as workers scamper for safety on sighting the helicopter.
He said security operatives attached to the Government House quickly cordoned off the area and apprehended the pilots.
When contacted, Chukwudi Achife, the chief press secretary to the state Governor, Sullivan Chime, confirmed the incident.
He said that the incident occurred at about 10.30am when workers were already in their offices.
“At about 10:30am today (yesterday), a helicopter bearing the markings of Aero Contractors landed without permission at the Governor’s Lodge. The mission of the visitors was unknown to the government. After preliminary inquiries, the chief security officer to the governor, Mr Fidelis Ogarebe, handed the three occupants of the aircraft -two pilots and one engineer – over to the State Police Command for further investigations” he said.
Meanwhile, it was later gathered that the helicopter was meant to convey the remains of Late Sir Andrew Okonkwo Umeoji, a former member of the old Anambra state House of Assembly, whose valedictory session was held at the hallowed chamber of the Enugu State House of Assembly.
It is, however, suspected that the pilot may have mistakenly made the landing because the House of Assembly is very close to Enugu Governor’s Lodge.
Responding, Jonas Ugwuanyi,the Public Relations Officer of the State House of Assembly, said “we actually prepared ground for the helicopter to land because the family had earlier intimated us that they will either bring the corpse by helicopter to the State House of Assembly or use helicopter to convey the corpse to Anambra state. The remains eventually left by road when the session ended and there was no helicopter”.
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