Hajj: FAAN suspends officer nabbed pilfering pilgrims BTA at Yola airport

From Umar Dankano,Yola

The management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, has confirmed the suspension of the female Assistant Superintendent of the Authority, ASA Jennifer Luka ( Alias Ramatu) nabbed pilfering with pilgrims Basic Traveling Allowances, BTA,at Yola Airport last week.

General Manager in charge of Corporate Affairs, Henrietta Yakubu made known the position of the FAAN department in a mobile phone interview yesterday (Sunday) explaining that the culprit has been suspended and that investigators are still interrogating her.

Yakubu said the department is committed to following the laid down procedures in handling cases of professional misconduct with a view to ensure fairness and justice for the parties involved.

Yakubu appealed to those concerned or involved to exercise some patience as the department will make public the final resolution as soon as the investigation is concluded.

It would be recalled that last week Monday, the culprit ( Jennifer Luka) of FAAN attached to Yola International Airport was arrested by the police for alleged defrauding some intending pilgrims for Hajj exercise to Saudi Arabia.

Miss Luka met her waterloo when she allegedly picked $300(dollars) each from the luggages of her two victims in the process of searching for prohibited items preluding to their clearance for boarding the plane.

The two victims,Hafsatu Mohammed and Aishatu Alhaji Buba from Yola North Local Government Area after the normal routine checking by the embattled officer observed that their Basic Traveling Allowance (BTA allowances) of $800 (Dollars)each were short by $300 each and raised alarm which attracted the attention of other security operatives at the scene.

A security source who pleaded anonymity at the Airport said the concerned officer was whisked away and thoroughly searched where the $600 Dollars with another N1,500 was found hidden nearly in her artificial hair known as ‘attachment ‘covered with barrette cap .

“At the initial stage when she was interrogated,she pretended that she didn’t commit any theft on the intending pilgrims insisting that nothing was on her like money.

“But to the surprise of all at the investigation room the said monies were traced concealed in her head covered with official barrette, there and then she became very weak sweating all over her body in shame,” the source added.