Osinbajo safe after minor care when his helicopter developed technical fault in Abuja

VICE president Professor Yemi Osinbajo is safe and sound after suffering  a minor scare yesterday when his helicopter suffered a technical fault as it sought to take off in Abuja forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing.

Yesterday, a helicopter conveying Professor Osinbajo to the presidential villa from the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, Abuja, made a forced landing a few seconds after take-off. Professor Osinbajo had been in the college for the graduation ceremony of Senior Division Course 1/2018 participants.

Earlier on in the day, the helicopter had conveyed Professor Osinbajo to the graduation ceremony but appeared to develop a fault on the way back. Upon take-off after the ceremony, the white chopper with yellow and blue stripes could not ascend beyond the tree level and started emitting thick fumes, so the pilot immediately made a quick landed on the same spot.

Following the incident, Professor Osinbajo left the venue by road, driving back to the presidential villa in a car. Prior to the incident, the chief of army staff, Lt General Tukur Buratai and the chief of air staff, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar, had already departed from the venue with their respective convoys.

Laolu Akande, professor Osinbajo's spokesman, said: “VP Osinbajo attended the graduation ceremony of Nigeria Customs Senior Course in Gwagwalada today. On his way back it was decided, for technical reasons, not to fly the chopper that had brought him to the venue, so he drove back to the presidential villa and continued his schedule.”