#Aviation minister suspends director President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the immediate suspension from office of the Director, Legal Services of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr Mark Jacob, over alleged controversial awards of contracts during the tenure of the former Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah. It will be recalled that Princess Stella Oduah, was dropped from office last year by President Jonathan, following allegation of over-inflated cost in the purchase of bullet proof cars. Mark Jacob, a former National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and one-time Commissioner for Justice in Kaduna State, was also the Special Assistant, Legal to Princess Oduah, in the Ministry of Aviation. It was learnt that the new Minister of Aviation, Mr Osita Chidoka, got the nod of President Jonathan, following what was described as concrete evidence of forceful take-over of some concessions which exposed the government to several court actions and unnecessary financial expenditures. Only last week, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said investigations of allegation of corrupt practices against Oduah as Minister of Aviation, was still ongoing, stressing; “her matter is not closed. She had been invited along with some officials of major parastatals in the ministry to make statements on their alleged roles in the awards of controversial contracts . Jacob’s alleged acts of commission and omission that exposed the Federal Government to ridicule and were presently being investigated included the renovation of the airports that so far cost the government about N9 billion. It was gathered that the contracts were not captured in the 2011 budget, nor were they bidded for just as there was no mechanism put in place for evaluation. Information pieced together by our correspondent indicated that the contract agreement was reportedly skewed against the government in such a way that it cannot terminate such dubious contracts. As a result, if the federal government attempt to terminate of the contracts, it will have to pay heavily for it even as it cannot get value for its investments. Another area under investigation was the alleged squandering of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement fund running into billions of dollars and the forceful ejection of Maevis from the nation’s airports. The development led Maevis to go to court and won its case against government which was ordered to pay Maevis more than N1billion as damages. Other cases instituted in court against the federal government as a result of the actions of the former minister include Bi-Courtney that is contesting the reduction of its concession from 36 to 12 years and that of and AIC Hotels. Similarly, the MOU with Chinese investors building the new terminal at the Abuja airport is also reportedly skewed against the government of Nigeria. There is also another N228million spent by FAAN for the repair of three generator sets. The suspension of Jacob was believed to be a prelude to his arrest by the EFCC, a development that is believed to have jolted the former minister, who may have presumed that matter has been closed but the suspension of her trusted aide has put paid to her earlier position. When contacted, the Special Assistant to Princess Odua, Joe Obi referred our Correspondent to the Spokesman of FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati, saying that since the issues were more related to FAAN, Dati should be able to speak on all the issues. However, efforts made to get to Dati through his telephone proved abortive as he failed to pick his calls but a top official of the Ministry confirmed the story to Space FM in confidence,saying that it was no longer news. The House of Representatives declared the purchase illegal on the grounds that it was not captured in the 2013 budget. Oil theft: cns accuses oil companies The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Usman Jubrin, on Wednesday, accused major oil companies of colluding with those involved in crude oil theft. Speaking at the Naval Headquarters, during a meeting with the international oil com-panies, the CNS noted that the country has a serious challenge on oil theft depriving it a huge sum of money and that the meeting must address the issue urgently. According to him, “it has become worrisome, that we had not been able to check this menace and that is why it has taken me seven months to summon this meeting which I said, must be attended by the chief executive officers of the oil companies themselves, but what I am seeing now are their representatives which I am not happy about”. The CNS, disclosed that he had decided to stop pointing fingers, but now, to mention the names of the companies involved in this oil theft. To further buttress, his point, the CNS said that some oil companies had their oil well heads uncovered with manifold for years and this is where the crude oil is being siphoned from. He declared, “I can say without fear of contradictions that some oil companies are deeply involved in these unwholesome acts, and this, we must address without all seriousness” The CNS, added that if these oil wells are well sealed with the required manifold, it is only expert that can open it and this is denting the image of the country. On their own part, the Naval Staff warned that if any Naval Officer or personnel is involved this whole scam, we will not hesitate to deal with such group. Consequently, he further warned that they would soon start arresting those whose oil wells are not sealed with manifold, and are still left open. He added that the navy and the oil companies will work out the details on how to tackle the menace together and find a lasting solution. Responding on behalf of the oil companies, the representative of Exxon Mobil Olabani Olubiyi, said that the navy has performed creditably well in checking the menace of oil theft and would continue to advocate for more platforms for them. The chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jubrin yesterday announced that the crude oil theft in the high seas has been reduced from 2.6 million barrels to about 900,000 barrels. According to him, “in January for instance we have about 2.6 Million barrels of crude oil theft but in June, based on the record we have here it has dropped to about 900,000 barrels of crude oil theft”. The CNS who made the revelation when the group managing director of NNPC Dr. Joseph Dawha, who visited him, to find ways of eradicating crude oil theft and pipeline vandalisation, said that apart from the fact that some people steal the crude oil and take it outside the shores of this country and some Nigerians get involved in this illegality by establishing their illegal refineries. He lamented that the consequences of some of these activities are environmental pollution, apart from depriving the nation of its revenue and of course paints Nigeria in a bad light internationally as if all Nigerians are all criminals, but this the navy must check immediately. Admiral Jubrin disclosed that the navy has effective patrols around ships and anchorage positions, and “today I can say that we have checked piracy within lagos waters to the barest minimum, piracy is not prevalent again”. The naval chief added, that for them to be able to do their job well, there are some other parameters that is required of some other agencies that work with them, such as evacuation of arrested vessels and oil tankers
Posted on: Thu, 04 Sep 2014 08:08:54 +0000
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