Diplomatic row: Again, FG grounds Kenyan plane

[Mirror]

The ongoing diplomatic row between Nigeria and Kenya deepened yesterday with the grounding of another Kenyan airplane by the Federal Government.

The grounded plane is parked at the airside of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos.

It was gathered that the plane, which is currently being guarded by security agents at the airport, had brought some deportees into the country late last week, but while the deportees were received by the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, attached to the airport, the plane was not allowed to return to base.

At press time, the details of the grounded airplane could not be ascertained as the Customs spokesman at the airport, one Mr. Adetula, directed our correspondent to the NIS headquarters in Abuja.

Adetula explained that the issue was being handled by the headquarters and refused to comment further.

The Federal Government had, about two weeks ago, grounded an aircraft believed to belong to a Kenyan citizen for entering the country's airspace without valid particulars.

The jet, it was gathered, did not file proper flight plan and had declared it to be a diplomatic jet only for the Nigerian authorities to discover that it was a private jet on a private mission into the country.

It was also gathered that the jet had deported a Nigerian based in Kenya who allegedly had a matrimonial crisis with his Kenyan wife.

Investigation also showed that the jet had no registration number and was immediately grounded by the security operatives attached to the airport.

The Federal Government sanctioned the jet, saying it must pay for the navigational services and other charges rendered.

National Mirror