N225m cars scam: Jonathan queries Oduah

ABUJA— President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, queried the Minister of Aviation, Mrs Stella Oduah over the N225 million armoured cars scandal involving her and some agencies of her ministry.

Jonathan’s query, signed by one of his aides asked the minister to explain her role in the purchase of the vehicles which had generated nationwide controversy.

It was further learnt that the President also asked the minister to explain the circumstances

under which the purchase of the cars were made.

President Jonathan will begin a visit to Israel today where he is expected to sign a bilateral air services greement with the country.

Still on the matter, the House of Representatives yesterday summoned Mrs Oduah to appear before it tomorrow in an investigative hearing over her role in the alleged purchase of two bullet proof BMW cars valued at N225 million.

This is pursuant to yesterday’s  resolution of the House to begin investigation into the purchase.

A statement from the Chairman, House Committee on Aviation, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha indicated that the investigative public hearing is billed to hold Thursday (tomorrow) at 10:00am.

Others expected  to appear before the committee are the Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA); Managing Director, Coscharis Motors; Comptroller-General, Nigerian Customs Service; Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement; Managing Director, First Bank PLC; Federal Ministry of Finance and members of the general public.

Meanwhile, another agency in the aviation ministry, the National Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), was also said to have purchased four Toyota Tundra vehicles for Mrs. Stella Oduah. NAMA however denied the report, saying it is false.

According to an online media which published the photographs of the limousines, the Tundras are in addition to four stretch limousines allegedly purchased for the movement of VIPs. The vehicles were said to be parked at the headquarters of the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) grounds in Abuja, yesterday.

The purchase and donation of the Tundras to the minister was allegedly made earlier, in June, while the four limousines were received in the third week of June but have not been put to use.