Mike Odiegwu and Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt
THE Rivers State Government on Thursday stuck to its guns as it rebuffed pressures from the Federal Government and entreaties from aviation stakeholders for the release of two Carveton Helicopters pilots who flew 10 passengers into the state on Tuesday.
The two pilots were arrested by the police on the orders of Governor Nyesom Wike and arraigned on Wednesday before a Magistrate’s Court.
They were remanded in Port Harcourt Correctional Centre for violating a no-flight order signed by the governor as part of measures to contain the Coronavirus pandemic.
It was also learnt that offices of Carveton Helicopters in Port Harcourt were closed by local government area chairmen in obedience to Wike’s pronouncement, which declared the airline a persona non grata.
The Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Prince Solomon Eke, was said to have stormed the airline’s office in his domain accompanied by a team from the council and sealed it.
A media aide to the chairman, Dagogo Isaac, confirmed the closure of the office and said it was in line with the governor’s directive.
He said Eke personally served the management of Caverton the notice of seal up at its office located at the Airforce base, Rumuomasi.
“All staff of Caverton Helicopters have been advised to keep off the premises until further notice,” he said.
The government confirmed on Thursday that the pilots were still in its custody following the court order but with a clarification that they were not kept in the Port Harcourt correctional Centre.
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor said the pilots were moved to a state-owned hotel after he obtained a variation order from the Magistrate Court.
He said in a statement: “The truth of the matter is that the Attorney-General of Rivers State applied for and obtained a variation order from the Chief Magistrate Court, Port Harcourt changing the place of remand from the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre to any Rivers State government-owned facility or building including Delta Hotels, GRA, Port Harcourt.
“Based on that Order of variation of the remand order, the two pilots are being remanded at Delta Hotels, Old 66, Port Harcourt and are attended to regularly by medical personnel attached to the Rivers State COVID-19 medical team.
“For the avoidance of doubt, want to restate that none of the two Pilots spent a second at the Port Harcourt Correctional centre.
“The Rivers State Government cares about the health and Safety of all Rivers people and residents inclining the inmates at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre.”
Read Also: Wike to Carveton: operate in Rivers at your risk
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Richard Akinaka, threw his weight behind all Wike’s actions to combat COVID-19 spread in the state.
Akinaka insisted that Wike’s style of handling the pandemic had shown his commitment to protect the lives of his people “without fear or favour”.
He described the governor’s action against the Caverton Helicopters as patriotic and a clear demonstration that he put the sacredness of life above all other interests.
He said: “The governor has shown uncommon leadership and has proved over the years that he has the interest of the people at heart. Even before the index case in Rivers State, he locked the borders and if not for his vigilance and proactive steps, the virus would have been ravaging the state the way it is ravaging other states. He has continued to monitor compliance.
“I am proud of his actions and I have to commend him and charge him not to bow to any form of intimidation or pressure since his social contract is with the people of the state.”
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