But for providence and sheer divine intervention, the newly installed Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede could have been dead and buried. In fact, his family may not have seen his remains, report thegazellenews.com
Olukoyede, a Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) was among the passengers billed to board the Bellview Flight 210 of 22 October, 2005.
He had purchased his flight ticket, collected his Boarding Pass and was set to board that chilly evening in Lagos. He had even called his wife to inform her that he would be coming in aboard the Bellview Flight 210.
Bellview Airline was the toast of air passengers then. Very professional and very popular.
But God was playing His game and intervened.
As he was about to go upstairs for boarding process, Olukoyede suddenly ran into an old school mate. The friend asked where he was going and he replied that he was going to Abuja.
“My location, you’ll fly with me,” the friend said.
All protests by Olukoyede that he had bought his ticket and ready to fly fell on deaf ears.
“Don’t worry, I’ll refund your ticket money, common let’s go, I’m ready to fly,” the friend said.
That was how fate intervened in Olukoyede’s matter.
He followed his friend and landed in Abuja safely but had not left the airport when news came in that the Bellview Flight he bought ticket to fly had gone missing.
The wife and other family members who were aware of his travel plan, have started crying but alas he called and told his family that he was save.
Olukoyede shared his testimony at the RCCG Redemption camp later that year and was rolling on the ground with his family members in appreciation to Almighty God.
The Boeing 737-200 aircraft was carrying 111 passengers and 6 crew members, most of whom were thought to be Nigerians.
There were also at least 10 Ghanaians, 2 Britons, 2 Gambians and one each from Germany, Mali and South Africa. United States officials also confirmed the presence of a U.S military officer on board the flight. There was also a Sierra Leone citizen aboard.
The flight was popular among Nigerians and expatriates shuttling between the two cities.
Among the passengers were: Cheick Oumar Diarra, a General from Mali and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Deputy Executive Secretary; Waziri Mohammed, Chairman of Nigeria Railway Corporation; and a close aide to incumbent then President Obasanjo, and then Nigerian Postmaster General, Abubakar Musa Argungu.
Usman Umar, a member of local council who was also the Chairman of Nigeria’s Board of Directors of the National Programme on Immunisation, was also on board the flight.
The cockpit crew consisted of Captain Imasuen Lambert, First Officer Eshun Ernest and Flight Engineer Steve Sani.
Also aboard the flight was a former Chairman of the Peoples Bank, Maria Sokenu; and Abimbola Ojora, daughter of Otunba Ojora and sibling of former First Lady of Kwara State, Toyin Ojora-Saraki.
Federal Government announced three days of national mourning in response to the deaths of the 117 passengers and crew members on board.
In response to the crash, the Government of Ogun State and the Nigerian Federal Government decided to build a memorial garden in Lisa Town. However, the memorial has been neglected and abandoned since President Obasanjo left the office in 2007.
Welcome to the miraculous world and life of the new Chairman of the EFCC.
