House Probe: Oduah Approved N403m Above Budget for
Cars
Stella Oduah
•We followed due process, NCAA insists
•BPP: We have no record of transaction
Onwuka Nzeshi
The vehicle purchase scandal rocking the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority
(NCAA) got messier yesterday, as it emerged that the two BMW
armoured cars and other operational vehicles bought by the agency
gulped a total of N643 million, being N403 million above the N240
million stipulated in the 2013 Appropriation Act.
In the initial budget proposal submitted to the National Assembly, the
NCAA had requested the sum of N140 million for the purchase of two
bulletproof cars at the cost of N70 million per unit.
When this request was turned down, the parliament approved the
sum of N240 million only for the purchase of operational vehicles.
However, evidence brought before the House Committee on Aviation
probing the controversial armoured car deal yesterday showed that
though the budget provided for a total of 25 operational vehicles, the
NCAA turned around to procure a total of 54 vehicles, including the
BMW armoured cars at triple the cost of what was provided in the
budget for the vehicles.
Chairman, House Committee on Aviation, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha,
expressed anger that the NCAA committed public funds to such a deal
in contravention of the budgetary approvals made by the National
Assembly.
Onyejeocha and other members of the committee raised a number of
questions as to the legality of the transaction and whether it followed
due process.
However, at the opening of the investigation, there was some buck
passing as the Director General, NCAA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, said most
of the decisions leading to the controversial purchases were made
prior to his assumption of duty as the agency's boss.
The lot fell on the Director of Airspace in NCAA, Mr. Joyce
Nkemakonam, to explain the role of the agency since he was in the
saddle when the decisions were made.
Nkemakonam's testimony raised a lot of dust when he insisted that the
transaction followed due process as it received the approval of the
Ministry of Aviation. He however had difficulties providing evidence for
his claims.
He also had difficulties wriggling out of the questions pertaining to the
flouting of the Appropriation Act and Section 80 of the Constitution.
In its testimony, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) told the
committee that it had no information on the said purchase of the two
bulletproof cars.
Mr. Ayo Adegbile, who represented the Director-General of BPP, Mr.
Emeka Ezeh, said it had no documents to present because the
purchases did not pass through the due process office as prescribed
in the Public Procurement Act.
According to him, a procurement of that magnitude ought to have
been passed and approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
He explained that going by the extant rules and a circular from the
Secretary to the Head of Service of the Federation, procurement
from N100 million upwards should be approved by FEC, while only
those below that threshold could pass through ministerial tenders
boards.
The committee had some initial problems deciding on whether or not
to conduct the investigation in the absence of the Minister of Aviation,
Ms. Stella Oduah, who was away in Israel on official assignment.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. George Ossi, had explained
that Oduah would not be available till after next Monday because she
was away signing the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) deal
with her counterpart in Israel.
Other stakeholders such as the Nigeria Customs Service and First Bank
Nigeria Limited were also absent, while Coscharis Motors was partially
represented but had no presentations because the firm got the
invitation late and its top level managers were outside the country.
Given the absence of key invitees and the short notice, the Aviation
Committee resolved that Oduah and these other stakeholders should
appear before it to give oral and documentary evidence next Tuesday.

Source: http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/house-probe-oduah-approved-n403m-above-budget-for-cars/162599/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Now this is another twist to the story, yesterday the report stated that the purchase followed due process, today its another thing... What do we even believe?? This rigmarole is becoming common in this country every time a case of corruption is brough forth.. The drama continues..

Gej over to you: sack the bleaching princess

Okwu kazi nku!!!

Napoleondegreat: Okwu kazi nku!!!

I dey tell u! A strong case of "Chi boo a nu ozo"

Why would anyone defend this woman. Igbo godess or emancipator of igbo, its insane.

guys lets leave dis woman alone.ahhhhhhhh oga at the top said igbos are the strongest backbone of his goverment.do u expect anytin goood?.

Aphrygian: guys lets leave dis woman alone.ahhhhhhhh oga at the top said igbos are the strongest backbone of his goverment.do u expect anytin goood?.

You bet we don't. Lolz.

Aphrygian: guys lets leave dis woman alone.ahhhhhhhh oga at the top said igbos are the strongest backbone of his goverment.do u expect anytin goood?.

By his (GEJ) statement he didn't mean to have endorsed her misdeeds. They are many other fair-minded Igbos who have rendered selfless services to this nation to whom the President must (and have) appreciate(d). Oduah did not buy those cars for the people but to assuage her personal ego.