YUGUDA EXPLAINED THE WHEREABOUTS OF GOVERNMENT'S  PLANE SAYS ITS WITH OVERLAND

The Bauchi State Government-owned plane that Governor Mohamed Abdullahi Abubakar said was allegedly found in Morocco is on lease to Overland Airways and the state government can contact the airline to find out the latest about it, former state governor Malam Isa Yuguda said in Abuja yesterday.
He said his successor “could not have discovered” the plane because a 15-page report on it was contained in the handover notes he handed over to Abubakar.
He said he even included a paragraph on the plane in the handover notes’ executive summary so that Abubakar would  not miss it.
Yuguda dismissed the lead story in yesterday’s Daily Trust which claimed that he had been invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to answer questions about the plane’s whereabouts.
He said, “EFCC has not invited me on this or any other issue. When they gave me a clearance, they told me that I have no further issues to answer. However, I am aware that some petitions have been instigated against me. Based on some of those, I may be required to come forward and offer some explanations and I am fully ready to do so.”
Yuguda said the full story of the plane, which was bought by the earlier administration of Governor Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu, is contained in the handover notes and his successor did not need any assets recovery committee to discover what happened to the plane.
He said at the time he left office, the plane was on lease to Overland Airways, which he described as a reputable airline with a good safety record.
According to him, the plane underwent C-check in a Moroccan hangar and though it was certified fit to fly, smoke was emitting from the engine into the cabin, which necessitated dismantling the engine and taking it to Rolls Royce in England for a full work over.
He said that was where matters stood at the time he quit the Government House and he advised his successor to contact Overland Airways to find out the current state of things.
Yuguda also advised Governor Abubakar, whom he described as a childhood friend, to beware of rumour mongers, including those who say that he was trying to instigate the Bauchi State House of Assembly to impeach the governor. He said he would  never do anything to disrupt the peace and tranquility of Bauchi State.
He said during the handover he advised his successor to call him whenever he needed explanation on any issue. That offer still stands and if things are done that way it will avoid embarrassing claims like that of a missing plane when it was actually on lease, Yuguda said.