Helicopter that brought Vice -President Yemi Osinbajo to Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, Abuja, could not take him back to the villa as it was said to have made a forced landing about 30 seconds after take-off.

Mr Osinbajo had been invited as Special Guest of Honour to a ceremony that saw the graduation of 40 senior officers of Customs.

The event was attended by Chief of Army Staff, Mr Tukur Buratai; Chief of Air Staff, Mr Sadiq Abubakar; Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr Hameed Ali and other top officials of the government

It was learnt that after the Vice-President took some group photographs with graduands, he was accompanied by other top officials to the location where the helicopter was waiting for him.

But few seconds after the helicopter took off, it was forced to make an emergency landing.

The development, according to findings, made the VP to depart the venue back to the villa by road while the helicopter was left at the training centre.

Senior Special Assistant to the Vice-President on Media and Publicity, Mr Laolu Akande, on Thursday, said Osinbajo avoided using his chopper from Gwagwalada where he had gone for an official assignment back to the Presidential Villa, Abuja because of “technical reasons.”

Akande gave the explanation in a message he posted on his verified Twitter handle, @akandeoj.

He confirmed that Osinbajo was conveyed to the venue of the engagement in the same chopper.

He disclosed that Osinbajo returned to Presidential Villa by road and continued with his schedule.

Akande wrote, “VP Osinbajo attended the graduation ceremony of Nigeria Customs Senior Course in Gwagwalada today (Thursday).

“On his way back, it was decided, for technical reasons, not to fly the chopper that had brought him to the venue.

“He drove back to Presidential Villa and continued his schedule.”

Punch