A scrap plane formerly owned by the late Apostle Gabriel
Oduyemi of Bethel Ministries, Ajah, Lagos, caused panic in the city on Thursday
as rumour spread that another aircraft had crashed in Lagos.It was learnt that
the plane, which was recently released to Capt Matthew Ekeinde, husband of
Nollywood star, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, was being dragged to Badagry area of
the state before its tyre burst. The incident forced the new owner to dump the
plane in a nearby filling station.
Hundreds of residents trooped out with their smart phones
and camera, and queued behind the gate of Dapsey Oil filling station at Igando
where the plane was parked.
A senior employee of the filling station said the plane,
with registration number N972TF, was being towed from Muritala Muhammed
Airport, Ikeja to Badagry when one of the tyres burst.He said, “The plane was
brought here around 2am after one of its tyres burst. It was being towed by a
red vehicle, but after it got to Igando, they discovered it would be difficult
to get it to its destination with burst tyre, which was why they brought it
here.”
The Lagos State Deputy Police Public Relations Officer,
Damasus Ozoani, told the News
Agency of Nigeria that the police provided escort for the plane. He said,
“About 12.45am, the command got a directive to escort the jet from MMIA Ikeja
to Badagry by road. “The operation was led by one Capt. Matthew Ekeinde, but in
the process of the journey, one of the jet’s tyres burst at College Bus Stop
and the jet could not move.“It was parked at Dapsey Filling Station along
Igando for repairs. We have provided security for the plane until it is moved
to Badagry.”
PUNCH Metro observed that men of The
Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps were on the ground to “ensure the
safety of people” living in the area.
The Igando Divisional Police Officer, Adeoye Olugbemiga,
came with his team around 12pm to control on-lookers.
In a short time, some of the residents turned the scene
into an amusement park and began to pose and take shots near the plane. One of
our correspondents observed that the plane’s two wings had been chopped off and
the cockpit was stuffed with nylons.The Managing Director of the Nigerian
Airspace Management Agency, Nnamdi Udoh, in a statement, said the aircraft had
long been within the agency’s facility till Wednesday night when it was
removed. Udoh said, “The aircraft that was sighted by the residents was
actually a junk one belonging to the late Apostle Gabriel Oduyemi of Bethel
Ministries.
“The aircraft was actually released to Capt Ekeinde who
will be using it for educational purposes in Badagry, Lagos.”Ekeinde confirmed
on the telephone that the scrap plane belonged to him.He said, “The aircraft will
be situated in a multipurpose and entertainment centre which will be open very
soon.
“When opened, the centre will be the first of its kind in
West Africa.”
Curled from punchng.com