LAGOS  – The Export Development Canada (EDC) has warned the Economic Financial and Crime Commission (EFCC) to steer clear of its Mortgage Rights, the CRJ 1000 aircraft.

The Canadian compa­ny claimed that the EFCC is obstructing the owner, EDC, from repossessing the aircraft, following a petition filed by Sir Johnson Aru­memi, founder of Arik Air.

The petition, which dated June 14, 2023, was signed by Phillip Hinds, Director; JEM Leasing Limited, the owner of the aircraft and copied Directors; Arik Air, Blue Marble Aviation Limited; London, Arik Air Aviation Centre (AAAC), Jia Aru­memi – Johnson, Chairman, Mr, Kamilu Omokide; Receiv­er Manager, Arik Air and Mr. Aminu Ismail, Executive Di­rector; Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AM­CON).

The petition, which was obtained by Sunday Indepen­dent, said that the meddling into the affairs of the airline by EFCC would significant­ly impact the decision of the foreign firm on whether to invest in Nigeria’s economy or not in the future.

According to the petitioner, the CRJ 1000 aircraft owned by JEM Leasing Limited was partly financed by EDC.

It stressed that as a condi­tion to that financing, the air­craft was mortgaged to EDC.

The letter said that the company confirmed the ve­racity of the statements set out in the owner’s letter, in­cluding that the owner had entered into an agreement with Alberta Aviation Capi­tal Corp, the new buyer to sell the aircraft to it, adding that this agreement was entered into with the consent and at the request of EDC.

The letter regretted that EFCC had taken certain steps that prevented the buyer from having access to the aircraft, noting that this would not au­gur well for the country.

The petition also denied the claim that the owner of the aircraft had dissociated itself from the sale of the airplane to the buyer and the plan to tear down the aircraft.

It maintained that these allegations were untrue, pointing out that the owner had confirmed that it has agreed to sell the aircraft to the buyer, while the buyer is also authorised to tear down the aircraft.

It added that Arik Air Limited had no interest in the said aircraft again.

The letter added: “As stat­ed in the owner’s letter, any interference action by Arik, or any other person, which impedes the buyer’s access to the aircraft, or any of the oth­er steps, matters, processes or transactions outlined in 2(g) and 2(h) of the owner’s letter, will constitute improper in­terference with the owner’s (and/or the buyer’s) rights in respect of the aircraft.

“Any such interference would also constitute improp­er interference with EDC’s rights as mortgagee of the aircraft.

“We therefore respectfully request that the EFCC does not impede the buyer’s access to the aircraft or any of the other steps, matters, process­es or transactions outlined in 2(g) and 2(h) of the Owner’s Letter.”

Recent events surround­ing the interference by the EFCC further to a petition by Sir Johnson Arumemi Ikhide, in respect of the sale of the aircraft by JEM Leas­ing Limited in cooperation with financing provided by EDC, had raised concerns in the sector.

The petitioner declared that it is imperative for the Nigerian government to pri­oritise the preservation of investor confidence and pro­vide a stable and supportive environment for internation­al lenders.

The company further de­bunked the claim that the Receiver Manager, Omokide had superintendent over the stripping of the CRJ 1000 air­craft without the knowledge of the owner – JEM Leasing Limited.

It maintained that it was necessary to establish the truth and hold accountable those responsible for dissemi­nating false information.

“EDC, as a Crown Corpo­ration wholly owned by the government of Canada, plays a pivotal role in driving eco­nomic growth and develop­ment through investments in various projects worldwide.