Oduahgate: Presidential Panel’s Deadline Ends Today -

The fate of the embattled Minister of
Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, may soon be
known going by the fact that the
administrative committee set up by
President Goodluck Jonathan to
investigate her role in the purchase of
two bulletproof BMW cars by the
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority will on
Monday(today) complete its assignment.
Our correspondent learnt that the
Presidential committee, which has a former
Head of Service of the Federation, Alhaji Isa
Bello, as its chaiman, had been meeting
secretly in the Office of the NSA.
The panel has the National Security
Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) and Air
Vice Marshal Dick Iruenebere (retd.) as
members.
A similar panel by the House of
Representatives, which on Thursday
submitted its report, indicted Oduah and
the NCAA.
A Presidency source said the committee
might submit its report to the President any
time this week before he leaves for the
Commonwealth Heads of Government
Meeting holding in Sri Lanka.
The source added that the presentation
might also be kept away from public glare
just like the panel’s meetings.
He however said a formal statement
containing the President’s position would
be made.
In announcing the establishment of the
committee on October 23, 2013, the Special
Adviser to the President on Media and
Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, had said
members were expected to, among other
things, ascertain whether the procurement
of the vehicles followed due process, the
purpose of procurement and inquire into
any other incidental matter.
He had said, “President Jonathan will like to
assure the general public that nobody, no
matter how highly placed, will be shielded
or exempted from this inquiry that he has
directed and that appropriate action will be
taken against any person or persons who
may be found guilty of misconduct or
misappropriation of public funds either in
this respect or in any other respect.”
On its part, the House had established
some “infractions” against Oduah and the
NCAA.
The panel, headed by Mrs. Nkiruka
Onyejeocha, had refused to make a copy
available to the media on the grounds of
avoiding a breach of House procedures.
This forced journalists to scoop the
highlights of the report through other
sources.
Onyejeocha however claimed on Friday that
what the media reported was not the exact
reflection of the committee’s
recommendations.
For example, the committee was said have
recommended that Jonathan should sack
the minister for exceeding the official limit
in approving the purchase of the
bulletproof cars.
It also allegedly recommended that
sanctions be imposed on the former Acting
Director-General of the NCAA, Nkemakolam
Joyce, and the agency’s Director of Finance,
Salawu Ozigi.
Besides, the panel reportedly sought the
immediate termination of a loan agreement
of N643m to finance the purchase of 54
vehicles, (including the armoured vehicles)
between the NCAA and First Bank Nigeria.
Coscharis Motors Limited is to be asked to
refund the N255m meant for the
bulletproof vehicles while the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission should
investigate the company for alleged abuse
of waivers.
The report was also said to have noted that
while the National Assembly approved only
N240m for the NCAA for the purchase of 25
vehicles this year, the agency went behind
the legislature to purchase 54 vehicles at
the cost of N634m.
The National Assembly had rejected the
proposal to buy two bulletproof cars, but
the agency bypassed the legislature to buy
the vehicles.
The committee described this act as “extra-
budgetary spending” and held Oduah and
the NCAA accountable.
However, the report has yet to be
considered, adopted or rejected by the
House.
Under the rules of the House, a committee
on completion of an assignment, will lay its
report before the House.
The House will later list it for
consideration, where members will go
through the report clause-by clause.
The report can either be endorsed or
rejected in the course of the consideration.
http://www.punchng.com/news/
oduahgate-presidential-panels-deadline-
ends-today/

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