NAHCO dismisses allegations of gun-running, drugs, money laundering

The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc has dismissed allegations of  gun-running, drugs peddling and money laundering levelled against the company.

The NAHCO management on Saturday at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos told newsmen that the former Managing Director of NAHCO Free Trade Zone (NFZ), Mr. Baba Yusuf, made the allegations because his attempt to get the sum of N125,900,000 from the group of companies failed.

In her remarks, the Group Managing Director, NAHCO, Mrs. Olatokunbo Fagbemi explained that the firm never engaged in such a dastardly act and wouldn’t do so now.

She further noted that the case was before the court and was surprised when the company was accused of such a grave offence, which could not be substantiated.

Fagbemi pointed out that the intent of Yusuf was to ensure a hostile takeover of the company by a faceless group, which he’s a party to.

She added that Yusuf had claimed a N125,900,000 severance package for heading the NFZ for seven months, which she said that he did not deserve.

Fagbemi maintained that Yusuf, through his lawyers, had threatened reputational damage to the company by petitioning different investigative bodies since he had been unable to get what he claimed to deserve despite the matter being in a competent court of law.

The NAHCO said the company’s silent position on the numerous allegations was not an admission of guilt; rather it was guided by its solicitors not to discuss the details of the matter.

Fagbemi further hinted that if such crimes existed in the organisation, Yusuf should have raised the issues, but failed to do so even in his handover.

“It is pertinent to note that at no time or in any handover note did Mr. Baba Yusuf raise any of these allegations as issues of concern or requiring board or management attention.

“Upon his resignation, he granted an interview praising NFZ, NAHCO and the new boards of the organisation.

“Following this, he attempted and failed to force NFZ to pay him an undeserved severance package of N125,900,000 as his performance bonus for seven months of non-performance as managing director of NFZ.

“He then through his lawyer, threatened reputational damage to NAHCO by petitioning different investigative bodies to review his tenure and file an action in court for recovery of his perceived claim, warning that his action would materially damage the corporate reputation and operation of the NFZ,” Fagbemi said.

She, however, posited that instead of Yusuf to pursue his claims in court, he resorted to multiple acts of blackmail, arm twisting and extortion by means of petitions with baseless allegations against the firm