Nigeria charges ex-air ministers

Nigeria's air safety record is very poor

Nigerian anti-corruption agents have charged two ex-aviation ministers after $160m for radar equipment went missing.

Femi Fani-Kayode and Babalola Borishade denied misappropriating money from an emergency fund set up to improve air safety after a series of fatal crashes.

Following the arrest of the two and a third official on Monday, the Senate passed a resolution to stop witnesses at parliamentary probes being detained.

Senators argued that the arrests could frighten off other potential witnesses.

Nigeria's parliament is conducting multiple investigations into alleged massive corruption during the government of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

NIGERIA PLANE CRASHES October 2006: ADC Airlines 737 crashes just after takeoff in Abuja, killing 96 people December 2005: Sosoliso Airlines DC-9 crashes on landing in Port Harcourt, killing 106 October 2005: Bellview Airlines 737 crashes in Ogun state, killing 117 May 2002: Plane operated by EAS Airlines crashes in Kano, killing 148 people November 1996: 142 people die when Boeing 727 owned by Nigeria's ADC airline plunges into lagoon 85km (55 miles) from Lagos Cash boost for air sector

Roland Iyayi, the former managing director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, was also charged.

In his testimony, Mr Borishade said that the amounts of money concerned had been exaggerated.

The equipment was supposed to help improve Nigeria's woeful air safety record after several fatal crashes.

Mr Borishade was sacked as aviation minister after a 2006 crash at the airport in the capital, Abuja, which killed 97 people, including the spiritual leader of Nigeria's Muslims.

Mr Fani-Kayode, a spokesman for Mr Obasanjo who left office last year, then replaced him.

Last week, an Austrian aviation contractor was arrested after giving evidence.

More than 200 people were killed in two crashes in 2005.

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