by Rachel Ogbu
Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah has appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation to shed some more light on the controversy and scandal surrounding her office.
On Thursday, Oduah told members that the said N255million BMW bullet proof cars claimed to be bought for her use were false allegations.“As you all are aware, what necessitated this public hearing were the events that followed a false and malicious online publication that I had compelled the NCAA to purchase for me two BMW bullet proof cars at the cost of $1.6million. Let me state emphatically that from the onset that the allegation concerning the purchase of the two bullet proof cars for me by the NCAA is false in its entirety, ” she said.
The hearing picked up afterwards with Rep Zakari Lafia Mohammed, Rep Jerimon Manwe and other lawmakers present firing questions at Oduah, NCAA DG Folu Akinkuotu and permanent secretary of the Ministry, George Ossi and acting DG Joyce Daniel Nkemakolam.
Asked why she went on to approve a sum beyond N100 million, Oduah reportedly said she approved the money and asked the NCAA to do the needful. According to Vanguard news, Rep Mohammed followed up by saying the “needfull” means a go ahead to implement to which Oduah resisted saying “no you are wrong on that, the needfull does not mean full approval. ”
The heat switched on to Nkemakolam for applying for the approval to which he explained hat they did the due diligence but they had a mindset that they were within the budget limit and since the agency had got the approval of the National Assembly there was no need to ensure that it was in tandem with the procurement law.
Curious, Manwe asked: “Who is using the vehicles now since the Minister said they were not purchased for her?”
“Anybody can use the vehicles when they are in the pool. They are operational vehicles,” Akinkuotu replied.
“Do you mean that a messenger or cleaner in the agency can use the cars?” Manwe followed up.
“Those categories of vehicles are for VIPs which include the Minister, including you, the Honorable,” Akinkuotu was reported as saying.
“Can we have the log book of the movement of the car” Manwe continued with Akinkuotu hiting back saying: “I am not a transport officer. I don’t know whether they are still keeping those log books.”
It was quite an ear full at the hearing today and in conclusion, the chairperson, Nkiru Onyejeocha re assured the nation of justice.
“Fact speak for itself. We have tried to listen to people: Coscharis, the Minister, NCAA, First Bank , BPP and Customs, and we have their submissions with us. We will consider what we have whether it is in line with the extant laws and financial regulations. We assure everyone and all Nigerian that we will do justice to this hearing,” she said.
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