N255m Bullet proof Cars: Ex- Aviation Minister Under Investigation. - EFCC **Seccures 117 convictions in 2013 The controversy sorrounding the purchase of N255m bullet proof cars by the Nigerian Aviation civil Authority, NCAA took another dimension yesterday as the Economic and financial crimes commission, EFCC said that the embattled immediate past minister of Aviation Stella Oduah she is under investigation by the operatives of the commission over allegations of corruption and abuse of office. The acting head media and publicity of the commission Mr. Wilson Uwujaren said that the commission is currently investigating stella Oduah and some directors in NCAA including the then Acting Director General who also doubles as the Director of Aerodrome at the NCAA Mr. Joyce Nkem-Akonam who was incharge of the transactions. Briefing newsmen at the Headquaters of the commission Mr. Uwujaren on the activities and performance of the EFCC in 2013 he said that the commission charged a total of 533 cases to court and recorded 117 convictions prominently was the son of the governor of Jigawa state Aminu sule Lamido. He said that the conviction figure represents an improvement over the 105 convictions recorded in 2012 irrespective of the underfunding challenges the commission is passing through. He further added that ninety nine percent of the convictions were secured by lawyers from the legal department of the EFCC. The House of Representatives had indicted the former Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah that she breached the 2013 Appropriation Act. They asked president Jonathan to review her appointment for approving expenditure of over N643m for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to procure 54 vehicles last year. The House noted that her approval limit as a minister was N100m. It added that in the process, the agency purchased two bulletproof BMW cars at the cost of N255m without the approval of the National Assembly. The House took the decision during last year plenary session after endorsing the report of its Committee on Aviation, which investigated the purchase of the bulletproof cars. A major recommendation of the committee, which was adopted, reads, “The House urges the President to review the continued engagement of the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, for having contravened the Appropriation Act, 2013 and the approved, revised threseholds by exceeding the Ministry of Aviation’s approval limit of N100m by the purchase of 54 vehicles valued at N643m.” The House further directed the ministry and the NCAA to terminate all the transactions relating to the bulletproof cars because they “were neither provided for in the Appropriation Act, 2013, nor was due process followed in their procurement.” The House recommended further, “The former Acting Director-General of the NCAA, Mr. Nkemakolam Joyce, and the Director of Finance, Mr. S. Ozigi, should be sanctioned in accordance with the Civil Service Rules for deliberately breaching the Appropriation Act, 2013, and other extant laws of the federation.” The House adopted all the seven recommendations of the panel, which was chaired by Mrs. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, a Peoples Democratic Party legislator from Abia State. But, in her reaction, the former minister accused the House of harbouring a “hidden agenda.” She noted in a statement by her media aide, Mr. Joe Obi, that in spite of the evidence she tendered before the committee, the panel made such recommendations about her.
Posted on: Fri, 14 Feb 2014 15:36:25 +0000
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