Kehinde Fajobi
Azman Air has strongly refuted allegations that it sold aircraft to Iran, describing the claims as baseless and threatening legal action against those behind the reports.
The airline’s Accountable Manager, Muhammad AbdulManaf, clarified that the aircraft in question had only travelled to Iran for a routine C-Check, as required by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
“Our aircraft went on routine maintenance C-Checks, which are mandatory every 18 months. I’m shocked to hear claims that we smuggled our aircraft to Iran. Is it a cow that can be smuggled? The story is fake and lacks any facts,” AbdulManaf said in an interview with a Kano-based news outlet.
He explained that the NCAA has strict guidelines for selling or deregistering aircraft from an operator’s Air Operator Certificate (AOC).
“The NCAA has not received any documentation or correspondence from Azman Air suggesting such a sale,” he added.
Addressing concerns about the alleged deactivation of the aircraft’s transponder during its journey, AbdulManaf stated, “We have written to the Iranian Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for clarification.
“If the transponder was turned off outside Nigerian jurisdiction, the CAA or Air Traffic Control of that country should have alerted us. We’ve received no such complaint.”
The airline clarified that the transponder had developed a fault during its flight to the destination airport. The issue was logged and reported to the NCAA, in line with standard procedures.
AbdulManaf also dismissed claims that Azman Air was aiding Iran in bypassing U.S. sanctions.
He highlighted an existing economic treaty among D8 countries—including Nigeria and Iran—which promotes free trade in aviation services and products.
“We are not aware of any sanctions between Nigeria and Iran. There are treaties under the D8 framework, which include Nigeria and Iran, to encourage economic cooperation, including aviation trade,” he said.
Last week, a Middle Eastern news outlet reported that Azman Air had allegedly facilitated the transfer of an Airbus A340-642 widebody aircraft to Iran’s Mahan Air, which is under U.S. sanctions.
The report claimed that the aircraft, flying from Kano to Kabul, had turned off its ADS-B transponder at 39,000 feet after entering Iranian airspace, eventually landing in Tehran.
AbdulManaf described the allegations as a smear campaign, reaffirming Azman Air’s commitment to transparency and compliance with international aviation regulations.