Medview Airline Plc has presented its position on the probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC, this week, detained the Managing Director, Muneer Bankole, for alleged fraud.
Bankole visited the EFCC Headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, after he was invited to answer questions on alleged diversion.
The MD is accused of retaining 50 per cent of funds paid by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
In a statement on Friday, Medview said monies received were used for preparations including aircraft maintenance and payment to service providers.
Executive Director, Business Development, Isiaq Na-Allah, stressed that the airline did not engage in any form of scam or diversion.
The official told the public that the EFCC only asked Bankole to appear to clarify the airline’s Hajj operations contract with NAHCON.
Na-Allah said it was “strange for somebody to wake up and go to the rooftop, armed trumpets and cymbal for a non-existent scam or diversion of funds all to smear Medview Airline Plc.”
“Specifically, out of the much-touted $900,000, NAHCON paid the money directly to two service providers in Saudi Arabia, namely General Authority of Aviation ($400,000 and Taibah Airports Development Company ($500,000), on July 5, 2019.
“In spite of deft moves by some highly placed persons to frustrate the airline from the operations with the late release of funds, Medview Airline airlifted 4,387 pilgrims from Kaduna, Yobe and Ogun states.”
The carrier added that the pilgrim’s boards in the mentioned states are living witnesses of the operation.
The ED said in line with the contract terms agreed with NAHCON, a presidential committee was raised to reconcile the differences in payment to the airline and the number of pilgrims airlifted.
The team, according to Na-Allah, later metamorphosed into a ministerial committee, where all issues were resolved.
