The Federal Government has made an arrest in connection with the private aircraft that made an emergency landing on a concrete road under construction in Ogwashi-Uku, near Asaba, Delta State, on Wednesday, June 10. The aircraft has been linked to the Dunamis International Gospel Centre, led by Pastor Paul Enenche.
NCAA Confirms US Registration
Sources close to the investigation revealed that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has established the country where the aircraft was first registered. According to The Cable, the aircraft was registered in the United States under the name of Dunamis International Gospel Centre. It was brought to Nigeria to operate under a non-commercial flight (PNCF) permit, which prohibits its use as a private charter. Investigators found that these conditions were being violated.
Change of Operatorship
The aircraft initially operated under Mounthill Ltd before its operatorship was switched to UMO Ltd in 2025 to obtain the PNCF permit. The federal government issued the permit after the incident. UMO Ltd is owned by Mike Olaoye, a member of the Dunamis church.
Pilot Arrested for Age Violation
The pilot, identified as Chris Baca, a 70-year-old Pakistani national, has been arrested for violating Nigeria's aviation age limit. The rules stipulate that pilots must not exceed 65 years of age to operate in the country. The infraction is expected to lead to criminal prosecution.
Mixed Reactions from Nigerians
The news has sparked varied reactions on social media. Isaac Junior claimed the church does not own a private jet, citing Pastor Enenche's recent message about being stranded in London on Air France. SmartNG suspected political motives, noting the pastor's criticism of the government. Olanrewaju Michael criticized the pastor for owning a private jet while preaching about hunger. BlueBlood argued that a simple tag check would reveal the aircraft is Canadian or American registered and does not belong to the church.
