President Goodluck Jonathan and the House of Representatives may clash over the probe into the purchase of two bulletproof cars for the Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

SUNDAY PUNCH learnt that Jonathan had no intention of acting on the recommendation of the House committee that probed the scandal.

The NCAA had reportedly paid about N255m for the two bulletproof BMW 760 Li cars. While appearing before the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation in Abuja on Thursday, the NCAA admitted that the Ministry of Aviation approved the purchase of the cars for Oduah. But Oduah had denied any wrongdoing, but blamed her aides and the acting Director General of the NCAA for the scandal.

The House had recommended that Jonathan should sack the minister for exceeding the official limit in approving the purchase of the two bulletproof cars while sanctions were also recommended for the former acting Director General of NCAA, Nkemakolam Joyce, and the agency’s Director of Finance, Salawu Ozigi.

The panel also reportedly sought for the immediate termination of a loan agreement of N643, 088,25 to finance the purchase of 54 vehicles (including the armoured vehicles) between the NCAA and the First Bank of 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.

It also called on Nigerians to mount necessary pressure to ensure the probe of Oduah. It made the call after the Presidency told SUNDAY PUNCH on Friday that it was not under any obligation to implement the probe report that indicted Oduah.

A very reliable source in the Presidency told one of our correspondents on Friday that the President was not legally bound to act on the recommendations.

The source said if Jonathan had wanted to act on the report, he would not have bothered to set up a three-man administrative panel headed by a former Head of Service of the Federation, Mr. Sali Bello, to probe the same matter.

He stated that the President knew from inception that a lot of interests would play out in the House of Representatives probe, hence his decision to set up his own probe panel.

He said, “I am sure you are aware that the President also set up an administrative panel to probe this matter.

“If he has confidence in the House of Representatives probe and is duty-bound to implement its resolution, he would not have bothered to set up a separate probe panel.

“The position of this government from inception has been that the resolutions of the National Assembly should be seen strictly as what they are: they are simply advisory and the President is not legally bound to implement them.

“Let us all wait for the President’s administrative panel to conclude its work and see whether he will implement the report or not.”

The House, however, expressed no surprise about the Presidency’s alleged disposition to its recommendations.

“It is the duty of the Executive to implement reports; if they say they will not implement, it is left to Nigerians to judge,” House spokesman, Mr. Zakari Mohammed, said.

“In plenary, we shall take a formal position on the matter. We will respond to the Presidency appropriately. We would have been surprised if they accepted to implement the report.”

Mohammed further accused the Presidency of deliberately shunning the House resolutions.

“There are 36 bills passed by the National Assembly awaiting presidential assent, which has not been done. They don’t act on our resolutions; that we know. It is left to Nigerians to judge; it is their turn to decide,” he said.

chukwudi44:

Punch!! Punch!! Na only Oduah una won take sell una papaers!! If una no get any other news make una close down.

chukwudi44:

Punch!! Punch!! Na only Oduah una won take sell una papaers!! If una no get any other news make una close down.

gratieao:
Don't mind those ewedu infested brain reporters. They must surely fail in all their plans, infact, no weapon faction against any Igbo minister shall prosper

gratieao:
Don't mind those ewedu infested brain reporters. They must surely fail in all their plans, infact, no weapon faction against any Igbo minister shall prosper

chukwudi44:

Punch!! Punch!! Na only Oduah una won take sell una papaers!! If una no get any other news make una close down.

gratieao: Any president that acts on a politically motivated report is clueless. The president is right in empaneling his own committee to report to him on the crises instead of accepting the report of the house committee that only last week interviewed the aviation minister. This is the same house that said Amaechi was right in flying a plane without documentation. This house report was rushed through and tastes like half baked bread. The presidential committee report will guide the president’s actions on this matter not the half baked report from the house.
BTW: Punch continue to future the Odua in your daily report. Let me tell you that Ada Ndigbo is going know where. Two days ago you manged to report how N3.8 Billion meant for pensioners in Oyo state was stolen by few people from the state and for about 30 mins the report hit online, you removed it and did not allow people to comment on it. Punch is this fair? We want to hear what really happened to N3.8Billion Naira for just a state just as you are reporting the Odua case. You have tried Dazieani, you failed, you Tried Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, You failed. You are also going to fail in this your pull them down syndrome from a section of the country. We are watching

wagecomet: Nigerians are unbelieveable, imagine folks supporting ms Oduah's corrupt practices. Why won't BH kill ur brodas n sistas n even have growing nos of followers, why won't militants and kidnappers grow in number, cos for me Oduah & co are worst than those BH & KIDNAPPERS. Cos our politician don't get tired of probing us of our destiny. Shame on this country!!!

Man red_0: Well, not suprise a typical Inyamiri talkn.

gratieao:
Don't mind those ewedu infested brain reporters. They must surely fail in all their plans, infact, no weapon faction against any Igbo minister shall prosper

gratieao:
Don't mind those ewedu infested brain reporters. They must surely fail in all their plans, infact, no weapon faction against any Igbo minister shall prosper

Laja Laba: The ranting of an Illiterate.....Read what u wrote again..No brainer

wagecomet:
Am an Inyamiri, but im lovin ur comment a thousand times. Don't mind my foolish brother n sisters. If u check prop

wagecomet: Nigerians are unbelieveable, imagine folks supporting ms Oduah's corrupt practices . Why won't BH kill ur brodas n sistas n even have growing nos of followers, why won't militants and kidnappers grow in number, cos for me Oduah & co are worst than those BH & KIDNAPPERS . Cos our politician don't get tired of probing us of our destiny. Shame on this country!!!