The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says the panel set up by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Oladayo Amao, to investigate the plane crash that killed seven of its personnel on Sunday, has swung into action.
NAF spokesperson, Ibikunle Daramola, disclosed this while responding to an inquiry by Daily Trust.
He, however, didn’t reveal the identity of the committee members.
“Setting up the panel was immediate as ordered by the Chief of Air Staff. The panel has also commenced its work. There is no time to waste,” Daramola said.
When asked if reporters would be allowed to cover the panel’s sitting, he said ongoing findings were not meant for coverage but promised that report of the findings would be made public.
He stressed that even the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), an agency charged to investigate plane crashes, would not invite the media while carrying out its duty.
Meanwhile, sources at the Air Force headquarters in Abuja confided in our correspondent that the panel set up by the CAS would soon halt its sitting.
A top military officer, who pleaded anonymity, because he was not authorized to speak, said some stakeholders in the aviation sector and lawyers have begun to raise eyebrow since the panel was constituted.
“By the virtue of Nigerian constitution, all investigations related to air crashes, shall be the responsibilities of the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB). The panel members may be asked to help the AIB team if they are allowed to join but not as a separate panel,” he added.
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