President Goodluck Jonathan has queried the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, demanding a detailed explanation from her concerning the allegation that she arm-twisted an agency under her supervision, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, to buy her two armoured cars for N255 million, PREMIUM TIMES can authoritatively report today.

In a memo marked “Restricted”, and written on a State House letterhead, Mr. Jonathan directed the embattled minister to provide him a detailed report on the procurement of the controversial bullet-proof cars, especially the cost, procurement processes and other issues relating to the transaction that have been raised by the media.

“The president is really angry at the disgrace that this shameful episode has brought upon his administration that is already hated by millions of Nigeria,” said a presidency source who has seen the memo sent to Mrs Oduah by the president. “The president has queried her as a way of following due process. He wants her to state her own side of the story in black and white.

“The president hardly feels this angry over an issue. I can tell you that except he has a change of mind, Oduah is a goner already.”

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the president asked the minister to respond to the query, dated October 21, before his arrival from Israel, where he and some governors and ministers are expected to perform this year’s pilgrimage.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media, Reuben Abati, was not available to comment for this story. Repeated calls to his mobile telephone did not connect Tuesday night. An aide said he had been busy preparing for the trip to Israel with the President.

The spokesperson for Minister Oduah, Joe Obi, could also not be reached. He did not answer or return calls. So also was Yakubu Dati, the coordinating General Manager for Public Affairs for the aviation agencies, who has been defending the minister since the scandal broke.

However, an aide of the minister confirmed Mrs Oduah received the query on Monday and has been scrambling to put together a convincing explanation for the president.

“I can tell you that they have been cooking up explanations they believe will assuage the President,” said an aide who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak on the matter.

“They are trying to destroy evidence as well. The sensible thing would have been for the president to suspend her before launching an enquiry. Now she is still in charge and at liberty to destroy evidence.”

The key issues the President wants the minister to explain are the allegations she inflated the cost of the cars while also violating the 2013 Appropriation Act and the Public Procurement Act in the acquisition of the controversial cars.

She also has to convince the president that she did not by her action violate a number of Nigeria’s anti-corruption laws.

PREMIUM TIMES had authoritatively reported that the multimillion contract was never listed or approved in any government budget as required by law, neither was it openly advertised or bided for.

The contract was also not listed in the budget of the NCAA, the agency compelled by the minister to make the purchase; and was not listed by the Federal Airport Authority, FAAN or Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA.

The ministry’s own budget too, had no plan to purchase any car for the minister, or other officials this year.

Spending public funds on unbudgeted projects attracts three years in jail and a fine of N100, 000 the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences law stipulates.

Also, contracts involving public funds without due procurement processes- basically open advertising and bidding- draws a minimum of five years, and a maximum of 10 years in jail, the Public Procurement law says.

Mrs Oduah had reportedly compelled the NCAA, to buy the two BMW 760LI armoured cars for her.

Her media assistant, Joe Obi, confirmed the procurement of the cars, claiming the agency bought the vehicles to protect the minister from “imminent threats” to her life.

The confirmation attracted outrage from Nigerians, especially anti-corruption crusaders and opposition politicians, who did not only demand her sack, but also called for an immediate investigation into the matter by the nation’s anti-graft agencies.

According to them, the transaction did not go through the procurement process neither were the vehicles budgeted for. They also claim that the cost of the vehicles might have been massively inflated.

Lagos lawyer and activist, Femi Falana, wrote the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, last Friday, demanding the minister’s resignation and an immediate investigation by the commission, failing which he would head for court to compel the Commission to do so.

Another anti-corruption group, Anti-Corruption Network, ACN, headed by a former member of the House of Representatives, Dino Melaye, also gave Mrs Oduah 72 hours to refund the N255 million used to purchase the cars. The group also threatened to sue her.

Other groups that called for the minister’s head include the Conference for Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, Say No Campaign Nigeria, SNCN, and Centre for Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC.

Mrs Oduah had reportedly made desperate moves to suppress the matter since it blew open by reaching out to some influential individuals and socio-cultural groups, including Aka Ikenga to mount a campaign that she was being victimised for stepping on the toes of some influential forces in the aviation sector.

She was reported to have also reached out to some media organisations to help checkmate the attacks on her.

Besides, she tried unsuccessfully to seek audience with Mr. Jonathan.

On Tuesday, a day after the president’s query was issued, the NCAA made further attempts to save the minister.

Mr. Dati insisted in a statement Tuesday that due process was followed in the purchase of the vehicles for the minister.

He also claimed that those calling for Mrs Oduah’s head were doing so with the aim of preventing Mr. Jonathan from contesting the 2015 presidential election.

Tolexander: All na wash!

The power that pardoned criminal is still there to forgive criminal.

bappahman: Will igbos stand with gej or madam aviation in this debacle?

Nigeria To Sign Bilateral Air Services Agreement With Israel

The Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah who left Abuja FCT, this morning (22nd October, 2013) to the State of Israel for the event will stand in for Nigeria.

According to the Minister of Aviation, the agreement signing is the culmination of twelve months of negotiations between officials of the Department of Transportation of the State of Israel and Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Aviation.

Ngwakwe:

Bros, the woman dey for Israel to sign another landmark agreement with the State of Israel for direct flight.

Sloan:

She is bleaching look at her finger knuckles! BOTOX all over her face, no wonder no husband would have her, so fake and plastic! What a shame! Well, it doesn't matter whether she goes to hell to sign any agreement beit landmark, watermark or airmark, SHE IS A THIEF! The question is can another corrupt GEJ fire a thieving Odulah? Na siddon look we dey!

IGBO-SON:


^^^Igbo-hater, be mindful of your BP.......before you keel over and quench one day!

Princess Stellar......the best aviation minister ever!

Sloan:

She is a thief and now being queried by her (also thieving) oga, how is that anyone's fault? You people pretend like if Stella's stomach is full and fat, then all ibos are also full and fat despite that several thousands are scrounging for a mean selling la casera and spare parts in every part of Nigeria. Well, save your breath - rather go and present how you want to go back to your se region in the coming national conference! When Odulah becomes minister in your region, may she steal to her hearts content! Just get your people to get their acts together and move out of the Western Region. That is all I care for now and I can't wait for this GEJ to make the conference VERY QUICK!

bappahman: Will igbos stand with gej or madam aviation in this debacle?

taharqa:

So you can comment on this one, faaa??

Sloan: [s]

She is bleaching look at her finger knuckles! BOTOX all over her face, no wonder no husband would have her, so fake and plastic! What a shame! Well, it doesn't matter whether she goes to hell to sign any agreement beit landmark, watermark or airmark, SHE IS A THIEF! The question is can another corrupt GEJ fire a thieving Odulah? Na siddon look we dey![/s]

Onlytruth: Oga Jona put on your thinking cap.
We Ndigbo believe that our daughter is being ganged up on. She is a victim of never do wells in Nigeria, people who want your failure in office.
Leave our daughter alone to do her job. The people behind her travails are the trouble with Nigeria.
If you go through with the wishes of haters and witches in Nigeria, do not be shocked if we Ndigbo dump you too!
Nuff said.

Imanuelle: If Jonathan sacks her he looses support further even without gaining the support of those that hate him




If he doesn't sack her he still has some of his supporters standing firm, and those that hate him would still hate him


The variables are his supporters

The constants are his haters

He should think properly before he solves this equation

Imanuelle: If Jonathan sacks her he looses support further even without gaining the support of those that hate him




If he doesn't sack her he still has some of his supporters standing firm, and those that hate him would still hate him


The variables are his supporters

The constants are his haters

He should think properly before he solves this equation

dridowu: Any government officials that does not follow due process is a THIEF, no matter how well he/she has perform.
Fela Voice: Pen Robbery is the Name

Onlytruth: Oga Jona put on your thinking cap.
We Ndigbo believe that our daughter is being ganged up on. She is a victim of never do wells in Nigeria, people who want your failure in office.
Leave our daughter alone to do her job. The people behind her travails are the trouble with Nigeria.
If you go through with the wishes of haters and witches in Nigeria, do not be shocked if we Ndigbo dump you too!
Nuff said.

Ngwakwe:

Bros, the woman dey for Israel to sign another landmark agreement with the State of Israel for direct flight.

Delafruita: now it can be understood why the sagacious and informed have continually stated that an igbo will not be allowed to lead this nation.some people are so blinded by tribal sentiments that even where the evidence of misappropiation and graft iis glaring,they still chip in the "our daughter" argument.they pain the situation as "her travails" as if she is the victim.they fail to understand that the opportunity cost to stella oduah'soverpriced armoured vehicles have been lowered into the ground.the opportunity cost to those cars especially in a cash-strapped agency is inadequate training,cutting of corners,lack of certain equipments etc and when such occurs in an agency responsible for air safety,suffice it to say we can no longer blame our "accidents" on "acts of God".

A sensible person should wonder why the president didnt first suspend the minister before his journey.why give so much space and time for the issue to be relegated from the frontpage of newspapers?its all in the hope that another issue will so occupy our consciousness and overtake oduah's cars in order of priority in public discourse and beer parlour gist.a president who is hellbent on fighting corruption will not wait till almost a week after the story broke before giving queries.but then,we have a president embarking on a spiritual jamboree with 19 state governors and numerous aides.shows how much he intends to filter away our collective patrimony