₦airaland Forum

All over the world the spirit is moving. A song we used to sing in the Catholic sec school i attended.

fendorf: Just downloaded bbm on my phantom pad

Please how did you do it?

NCAA proposed N140 million for the two cars although National Assembly blocked the spending.
At a combative House of Representatives hearing Thursday, lawmakers, and officials of the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, shredded claims advanced by aviations agencies and the minister to escape criminal prosecution with respect to the car procurement scandal rocking the aviation ministry.  Minister for Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, compelled the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, against due process principles, and outside budgetary approvals, to procure two armoured plated BMW cars for her at a cost of N255 million, four times the market price.
In a rare act of prompt response to instances of grand corruption in his administration, president Goodluck Jonathan, prior to an official trip to Israel, fired a query at the minister, a close ally who ran his last campaign, and empanelled a three-man committee to look into the matter.
Rushing a response to the presidents’ query and heading off to Israel, presumably as part of the presidential official entourage, Mrs. Oduah, who studied accounting and business studies, claimed the purchases were in tune with the procurement law of the land, and that they were duly appropriated in the 2013 budget.
Furious lawmakers and procurement experts Thursday in Abuja tore through her claims, ramming knocks at every point she made in her widely circulated response officially meant for the president, but, in what again appeared to be an abuse of protocol, was curiously mass circulated to help stem her tumbling public relations profile.
The House committee on aviation, which has oversight responsibilities over Mrs. Oduah’s ministry and agencies, recalled that the NCAA proposed to purchase two armoured cars, at N140 million for “executive movements and security/safety purposes,” as well as assorted brands of Toyota cars as operational vehicles.
In the approved budget, however, signed by the Aviation committee chairpersons in the Senate and the House, the armoured cars were unapproved and deleted. Details of the NCAA budget were made available at the hearing, which showed how the armoured car proposal was struck off by the legislators.
“The constitution is clear: no public fund shall be spent without the approval of the National Assembly,” said Nkiruka Onyejiocha, who heads the aviation committee.
The Committee hearing also revealed a pattern of disdain and contempt for legislative oversight at the Oduah agencies illustrated by the fact that although the National Assembly approved 25 operational vehicles for the NCAA, comprising of Toyota Hilux, Corollas, Prados and Hiaces at the total cost of N240 million, the agency went ahead to implement its own preferences.
Defying relevant laws, the NCAA, in its implementation, insisted to buy 54 cars, including the two armoured BMW cars that were rejected by the lawmakers, all at a total of N643 million, with a financing from First Bank that may could the total cost to N1 billion when all interests are added.
A surprising point was how the armoured cars, even when they had been rejected, suddenly rose from N140 million that the agency proposed to the National Assembly, to N255 million, an amount that has added to the fury many Nigerians have shown since the scandal broke, calling for the removal of the minister, Mrs. Oduah.
Language play as a Defence
Officials of the NCAA, at the committee hearing, adopted the language play and weaving claims of the minister, in her query response to the president, insisting, “Due Process was followed in the procurement of the said operational vehicles.”
Acting director general of the NCAA, Joyce Nkemakolam, who supervised the procurement, despite apparent evidences to the contrary, maintained at the hearing that the purchases were lawful.
When questioned by the committee chairperson, Mrs. Onyejiocha, if the purchase was right, he answered in the affirmative, contending that it was in the budget, and offering as evidence, a subhead in the approved budget that allows for the purchase of “operational vehicles.”
Mr. Nkemakolam said the subhead was a “holistic description” with import stretching to cover the armoured cars, as evidence of approval for the purchase, he said, “the NCAA wrote to the minister for approval before buying the cars, and the minister approved,” in essence investing the minister with a legislative power.
In the budget, such vehicles were supposed to be used for the inspection and monitoring, of airport perimeter fencing, and this prompted Jerry Manwe, a member of the committee from Taraba state, to quip that “There is no way armoured cars can be used for the inspection of perimeter fences.”
The grounds radically shifted for the aviation team at the hearing when officials of the Bureau for Public Procurement drilled holes in their claim characterizing the claims as false.
Mr. Ayo Aderibigbe, who represented the director general of the BPP, Emeka Eze, said the aviation ministry was never in correspondence with the BPP on the issue of the cars in question, and that a Certificate of No Objection was never awarded to NCAA as green light for the purchases.
“We have nothing to forward to the honourable house on this because they don’t exist,” he said for each, implying the NCAA did not subject any of the purchases through the required procurement stipulations. Mr. Aderibigbe remarked.
Ms Seember Nyager, who heads the Public and Private Development Centre, a civic institution in Abuja that promotes transparency by monitoring procurement culture in the country, echoed this same point, stating that there was no where in both the 2013 and in the 2012 budget that approvals were offered to purchase the NCAA cars.
She alluded to the word play and lexical shift in the language of the aviation officials that allowed them break the procurement laws while deluding themselves that they were acting lawfully.
“The budget expenditure of the NCAA is supposed to be approved by the National Assembly and not the ministry of Aviation. If operational vehicles were needed, we should see it in the Appropriation Act; this is not listed in the Appropriation Act so again, how do we know that it is part of the approved budget? As far as we know, it is not “ she queried
Ms Nyager argued further: “Assuming that the NCAA sought authorization from the Ministry of Aviation who then sought approval from the appropriate quarters (NASS) so that due process was indeed followed, the advertisement would have to have been placed for at least six weeks if the default open competitive bidding method was adopted.  However, the date for request of authorization and the date of the bid opening is barely six weeks. This suggests that there may have been a breach in the process and the only way to prove otherwise is by ensuring public access to these records.
“Assuming that there has been no breach in due process so far and the procurement process is at the stage of recommending a preferred bidder, the threshold for the Parastatal tenders board is 2.50 million and above but not more than 50 million.  For any goods above 100 million, then the BPP would need to issue a certificate of no objection. If the value of the vehicles is up to 100 million, then it certainly does not fall within the threshold of the Ministry. “
Eze Onyekpere, Lead Director, at the Centre for Social Justice accepts Ms. Nyager’s reasoning adding that the ministers’ rationalizations on the car procurement fail when subjected to two rational tests: why was the price of the car inflated and who approved her budget to appropriate the purchase.
Mr. Onyekpere said the inability to come clean with a clear case of crime here was what led Mrs. Oduah into “all these language manouevres” warning here “it is not about formal presentation and being smart.”
Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, chief executive at the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, puts the blame on President Jonathan who he said had shown no serious commitment to anti-corruption beyond rhetoric.
“Next week in London the Open Government summit opens with the door slammed against Nigeria because of the impunity of corruption here, that is how bad matters have gone Mr. Musa said, wondering how Mrs. Oduah was not placed on suspension, and was allowed to join the president in Israel for the state visit.
“This is a poor way to inspire a country, this is sending the very wrong message, this is a clear show of disregard for public concern, Mr Musa pleaded, contending that “the mindset of the president, is that public pain and frustration with corruption does not matter since the lady is in his kitchen cabinet.”
He said most Nigerians would have appreciated that Mrs. Oduah distance himself from public function and keep quiet till the report of the investigations on her is ready.
Coscharis, the firm that supplied the car at a rate many believe was deliberately inflated, appealed to be allowed to respond on Tuesday as the head of the company, Cosmas Maduka, was away in China, and would be returning soon.
The committee said the representatives of the NCAA, including current director general, could not answer required questions satisfactorily and directed the agency to return on Tuesday with all invoices involved in the transaction and a six-month statement of account of the bureau. Mrs Oduah is also expected at the Tuesaday hearing.
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/147227-oduah-ncaa-violated-nigerian-laws-n255-million-armoured-car-scandal-lawmakers-bpp-say.html

VICTORCIZA: Hahahaha joke of the day.INEC HAS CLARED OBIANO ON THAT ALLIGATION.FIND ANOTHER THING TO SAY.APC WINNING ANAMBRA IS LIKE A CHRISTIAN BEING THE PRESIDENT OF SAUDI ARABIA.

What brought APC into this? You're in secured, dude.

Promhize: Peter Obi abeg bring investment come my State o, this one wey u just dey follow our amiable president

It is called sycophancy.

homesteady: I thought this matter was over?

For where? Until she acts a porn with FFK.

Front page moderators.

chima12: You people have forgotten something.she also bought 36 mercedez limousines which she gave as gift to the 36 state governors as sallah gift as well as 53 limousines which she gave out as gift to 53 african heads of states to celebrate nigerias 53 independence anniversery.
Desperate people.

Listen up, son. If madam is shown the way out today she'd be definitely be replaced by another person from the south east. My question is this; why are you guys reluctant to allow an intelligent and more competent person from the same south east replace the wayward madam with face of many colors? Are you cursed to present dregs as your representatives. I've met and worked with so many intelligent and morally upright Igbos and therefore I'm sure there are competent Igbos around.

Billyonaire: No source, the website referred to is FRAUD. Click the link and its virus there

Tell Reno omokri virus infected you laptop, he will gladly buy another one for you.

KenGali: Seems some people get orgasm every time they say the words "Stella Oduah"

Sorry peeps keep having your wet dreams, while the lady is busy working on her plans for a National Carrier!

At what cost?

Garri the 1st: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want....

Me too.

victorazy: Dis mumu man

For all I care this man could be older than your father, and may be less of a mumu than your father. You lack good upbringing.

idupaul: Taking heed from Master Jesus teachings Dino Melaye whose garage is filled with exotic European machines also gotten from corrupt practices is not "Sinless " enough to cast this first stone against Stella Oduah .. We need someone with clean hands to be the stone thrower.

You don't even have any qualms mentioning and quoting Jesus Christ to justify corruption by your kinsmen.

It is uncommon to see people not follow the crowd in the South South part of the country and that's why Amaechi is an headache for them. For crying out loud OBJ & Tinubu were never on good term when OBJ was the president but he or his agent never at one time threaten to remove Tinubu with impunity. My brothers in Rivers state and by extension South South you're not cows. Don't follow the crowd. If Amaechi is doing well as a governor support him if otherwise turn your back to him. Ask those supporting Stella Oduah how much of the cut in the BMWs she gave them. Let's reason with our own brains like the Europeans do.

The whereabouts of the two luxury bulletproof cars procured with public funds by the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, is unknown, according to the minister’s close aides and insiders in the aviation industry.
Mrs. Oduah, our sources say, has never been seen riding in them or using them for any official purpose, raising questions on whether the cars were supplied at all or whether the transaction was a mere paper process to launder public funds.
When contacted, through her spokesperson, Thursday, the minister declined to respond to PREMIUM TIMES’ enquiries regarding the whereabouts of the cars since she is not known to use them to work and other official functions.
This paper had contacted spokesperson Joe Obi specifically requesting information on the use the armoured vehicles had been put since they were delivered to Mrs. Oduah in August.
Our reporter also indicated interest in physically inspecting the cars. But the minister’s aide refused to grant permission to this newspaper to view the N225 million worth of BMWs.
After asking PREMIUM TIMES to send him a text message detailing our enquiries, Mr. Obi failed to respond and subsequently refused to answer calls made to his telephone.
But our checks at the aviation industry indicated the whereabouts of the cars remained unknown even to close aides of Mrs. Oduah.
The spokesperson for the nation’s aviation agencies, Yakubu Datti, had, in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES, initially dismissed the news of the purchase of the vehicles by news website, Sahara Reporters, as politically motivated “rumour.”
However, Mr. Obi admitted to the Punch Newspaper on Wednesday that the two armoured BMW cars were procured to protect his boss from “imminent threats.”
“When she came on board as the minister, she inherited a lot of baggage in terms of concession and lease agreements in the sector, which were clearly not in the interest of the government and people of Nigeria,” Mr. Obi said.
“And so, she took bold steps and some of these agreements were reviewed and some were terminated, and these moves disturbed some entrenched interests in the sector, and within this period, she began to receive imminent threats to her life; therefore, the need for the vehicles,” he added.
Sahara Reporters revealed that Mrs. Oduah compelled the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, an agency under her supervision, in a presumed case of corruption, conflict of interest, and abuse of office, to procure the cars for her with public funds.
Documents show that the transaction to procure the cars started last June.  Things were then sped up with the cars delivered on 15.
In a letter dated August 13, 2013, J.D Nkemakolam, the former Acting Managing Director of the NCAA, sent a letter to the Managing Director of Coscharis Motors asking the company to deliver two BMW 760 armoured vehicles to the agency based on a pro-forma invoice dated June 25, 2013 at the cost of N127, 575,000 ($796,846.21) each.
The total amount for the two black BMW Li HSS vehicles, with chassis numbers WBAHP41050DW68032 and WBAHP41010DW68044 respectively, was N255,150,000, or $1,593,687.31.

http://premiumtimesng.com/news/146790-whereabouts-stella-oduahs-225million-armoured-cars-unknown.html

The whereabouts of the two luxury bulletproof cars procured with public funds by the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, is unknown, according to the minister’s close aides and insiders in the aviation industry.
Mrs. Oduah, our sources say, has never been seen riding in them or using them for any official purpose, raising questions on whether the cars were supplied at all or whether the transaction was a mere paper process to launder public funds.
When contacted, through her spokesperson, Thursday, the minister declined to respond to PREMIUM TIMES’ enquiries regarding the whereabouts of the cars since she is not known to use them to work and other official functions.
This paper had contacted spokesperson Joe Obi specifically requesting information on the use the armoured vehicles had been put since they were delivered to Mrs. Oduah in August.
Our reporter also indicated interest in physically inspecting the cars. But the minister’s aide refused to grant permission to this newspaper to view the N225 million worth of BMWs.
After asking PREMIUM TIMES to send him a text message detailing our enquiries, Mr. Obi failed to respond and subsequently refused to answer calls made to his telephone.
But our checks at the aviation industry indicated the whereabouts of the cars remained unknown even to close aides of Mrs. Oduah.
The spokesperson for the nation’s aviation agencies, Yakubu Datti, had, in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES, initially dismissed the news of the purchase of the vehicles by news website, Sahara Reporters, as politically motivated “rumour.”
However, Mr. Obi admitted to the Punch Newspaper on Wednesday that the two armoured BMW cars were procured to protect his boss from “imminent threats.”
“When she came on board as the minister, she inherited a lot of baggage in terms of concession and lease agreements in the sector, which were clearly not in the interest of the government and people of Nigeria,” Mr. Obi said.
“And so, she took bold steps and some of these agreements were reviewed and some were terminated, and these moves disturbed some entrenched interests in the sector, and within this period, she began to receive imminent threats to her life; therefore, the need for the vehicles,” he added.
Sahara Reporters revealed that Mrs. Oduah compelled the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, an agency under her supervision, in a presumed case of corruption, conflict of interest, and abuse of office, to procure the cars for her with public funds.
Documents show that the transaction to procure the cars started last June.  Things were then sped up with the cars delivered on 15.
In a letter dated August 13, 2013, J.D Nkemakolam, the former Acting Managing Director of the NCAA, sent a letter to the Managing Director of Coscharis Motors asking the company to deliver two BMW 760 armoured vehicles to the agency based on a pro-forma invoice dated June 25, 2013 at the cost of N127, 575,000 ($796,846.21) each.
The total amount for the two black BMW Li HSS vehicles, with chassis numbers WBAHP41050DW68032 and WBAHP41010DW68044 respectively, was N255,150,000, or $1,593,687.31.

Dee60: Was this money budgeted for? National Assembly, please explain!

Miscellaneous expenses. Fear catch you?

Front page please. Haba.

Any London use iphone 4s 32gb 4 for sale? If any at all call this number 07033432897. Thanks

kabba7: some time ago I request the governor of Ogun to please send one of his advisers to come advice the governor of Kogi on how to manage the state so many lambasted me , well here am again requesting Aregbe to quickly harken to my request before that state sinks finally if he refuses for his information i will sue him and all Osun people at the world court for cruelty and abuse of power

You're funny sir.

Deportation,anyone?

jude33084: At least we are the first to discover that 16 is greater than 19

Yes o. And 5 > 27.

frosbel: [size=15pt]"It is written," he said to them, "'My house will be a house of prayer'; but you have made it 'a den of robbers.'" - Luke 19:46[/size]

How does paying and collecting your offering, tithe e.t.c online turn into robbery? Would you be happier if they collect cash?

Demdem: It's unfortunate. With or without Assad, killings will continue. His greed to force himself Ib his people to me is the root cause. Surely he must go. I forsee a very bleak future for this country.

With the exit of Hosni Mubarak is Egypt better?
With the exit of Gadhaffi is Libya safer?

The PDP said its candidate is
Tony Nwoye.
The Peoples Democratic Party has
announced that its candidate for the
November 16 Anambra governorship
election is Tony Nwoye and not Andy
Uba.
Messrs Nwoye and Uba emerged as
candidates at parallel congresses of the
party on Saturday in Awka, the
Anambra State capital.
The PDP national chairman, Bamanga
Tukur, stated the party’s position in
Abuja on Monday while receiving the
report of the party’s electoral panel
chaired by Governor Ibrahim Shema of
Katsina. The panel conducted the
primary won by Mr. Nwoye.
The other primary, won by Mr. Uba, a
serving senator, was conducted by the
parallel chairman of the Anambra
chapter of the PDP, Ejike Oguebeo.
Another person, Ken Emeakayi, is the
factional chairman of Anambra PDP
recognised by the national secretariat.
Mr. Oguebeo is, however, recognised
by the Independent National Electoral
Commission as the Anambra PDP
chairman.
www.premiumtimesng.com/news/143490-breaking-anambra-governorship-poll-pdp-disowns-andy-uba.html