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Tag: Stella Oduah

  • Beyond Stellagate

    Beyond Stellagate

    This week, I return to Stellagate – the latest brand of impunity featuring Aviation Minister Stella Oduah and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). Just as the histrionics that have attended the on-going investigations by the House of Representatives are not entirely unexpected, there is something in the attempt by the chamber to play the thief-catcher that smacks of hypocrisy – or worse, abdication. More than a week after, I mean the motions have become all too familiar; outrage couched in righteous indignation has not abated; so also is the fanfare of staged investigations that deliver no more than we already know. . Soon enough, the chapter will be closed in time for the nation to return to business as usual.

    Not even those who relish the placebo of elevating the ritual of fact-finding to an end itself can fail to be amused by the charade primed to generate more heat than light. It’s hardly a case of returning a verdict of failure of oversight more so since the House has denied approving the vote for Oduah’s armoured cars. However, there can be no running away from the preliminary point – which is that the body in which the constitution vests the authority to determine how public funds are applied, and which gobbles N150 billion of taxpayers funds annually, could do far more than the ritual of fixation with post mortems.

    Now, if you ask me – what is excitable in yet another putrid flesh being served hot and steaming to luckless citizens on prime-time TV? And since when has graft in high places ceased to be citizens’ daily staple in these parts? And what is new that we do not already know about the self-help culture which goes on in the name of public service? Isn’t it now obvious to everyone – save our self-appointed gate-keepers – that due process, like its law kin, is either a donkey or an ass depending on who is involved?

    Again, if you ask me, I would tell you that the bicameral chamber should focus on better things rather than reduce the hallowed halls to parliaments of trivia. This is what the so-called high profile inquiry would achieve. I mean beyond their sheer entertainment value, what purpose or purposes did previous investigations serve if not to further muddle the waters as we saw of the pension probe in which they played the spoilers instead of allowing the public service and the anti-graft agencies to do their job? And, by the way, what is the job of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission ICPC other than to establish whether or not the law was broken? And do we need a distracting and utterly superfluous activism of a presidential panel to establish that?

    Talk about the august body preferring to treat ringworm when a life-threatening affliction is indicated. So much for their activism; do our overpaid lawmakers have the foggiest idea about the crisis ravaging the public finance system beyond the episodic theatricals each time another high-profile thief shows up? How about treating the citizenry to the same dreary motions with predictable outcomes merely for the fun of being seen to be doing something?

    You call that leadership or governance? Well, I call that abdication!

    Focusing on the elephantine N4.6 trillion annual federal appropriations and their share of the pork described as constituency projects is not nearly quarter of the job for which our lawmakers draws a whole of three percent of the entire federal budget. I am talking of a National Assembly of 90 Senators, 450 Representatives, together with their hordes of assistants and allied bureaucracy gobbling up N150 billion of our four-point something trillion annual federal budget. That’s hardly money well spent!

    For once, I think our lawmakers should get their hands dirty by putting them to work. That means getting the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the National Assembly to undertake a comprehensive look into the bastion of pork – described as agencies and parastatals. How many are they? How much of their fiscal activities are known? It would be interesting to know.

    How much of their revenue and expenditure profiles are captured in the appropriation process? How much of their fiscal operations are knowable or even known? How are their operating surpluses utilised and how effective are the institutional controls? To what extent do they comply with the mandatory requirement of periodic rendition of their audited accounts to the Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly? Now, we are talking of agencies whose revenues in some cases exceed those of some of the less prosperous states in the federation!

    For starters; what would it take for PAC to get the outlaw national oil corporation – the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC ) to comply with the law by throwing its books open? For how long will the nation continue to suffer the monthly eruptions at the Federal Accounts Allocations Committee only because the rent-collecting corporation insists on acting above the law of the republic? Now, I have not even mentioned the relatively less known cash cow of the ruling party, the Nigeria Ports Authority – a parastatal under the Ministry of Transport which came to national attention only because one Bode Gorge took his turn to eat!

    How much of the fiscal activities or operations of this important parastatal are known?

    That, to me, is the way for the National Assembly to go; evolving an adequate template of fiscal controls would seem by far more productive venture than the fruitless mission to catch the legion of execu-thieves.

    Interestingly, no one it seems bothers anymore about the root of the gravy: the Abuja behemoth which swallows 54 percent of proceeds of the federation account leaving the 36 states to share a paltry 24 percent; this they do in addition to countless other below-the-line revenues that are either unaccountable or unaccounted for. Ever wondered why there is too much money with pretty little thinking going on?

    By the way, isn’t it a shame that the Revenue Allocation Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission has had a whole of 14 years to strip the federal behemoth of the excess baggage but instead feigns helplessness? Isn’t it about time the members headed back home?

    If our lawmakers want to be taken seriously, let them take practical steps to tame the Abuja gravy and its expansive infrastructure. We do not need those spectacular shows to catch a few thieves.

  • Nigeria has no certified airport, says NCAA

    Nigeria has no certified airport, says NCAA

    •’Senate didn’t approve N255m for armoured cars’

    Nigeria has no fully certified airport, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said yesterday.

    This came as the Senate said it did not appropriate the N255 million the NCAA spent on the controversial armoured cars for the Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah.

    NCAA’s Director of Aerodrome Services, Joyce Nkemakolam, shocked members of the Senate Aviation Committee when he said: “No airport has been fully certified in Nigeria.”

    The committee opened investigation into the October 3 crash of Associated Airline, in which 13 people died.

    The NCAA directors, who appeared before the probe panel, treated most of the questions thrown to them with levity, often parrying the questions.

    Nkemakolam, who was Director-General of the aviation regulatory agency after the exit of Dr Harold Demuren, was asked to state how many of the 22 airports in the country were certified for operation by relevant civil aviation bodies.

    The director was also asked to state the number of airlines he licensed to operate in the country as the Acting DG.

    He told the committee that he handled “three or four Air Operating Certificates”.

    A member of the Senate Committee said the implication of Nkemakolam’s revelation was that “no airport in Nigeria is safe”.

    The committee mandated the NCAA to furnish it with the status of aircraft registraition with information on the car transaction, including the funds appropriated for the body.

    Uzodinma also said the committee would give Akinkuotu and other NCAA directors questionnaires to fill on the car purchase.

    He added: “But I should state categorically that the Senate did not appropriate N255 million for the purchase of the armoured cars.”

    The NCAA told the committee that the ill-fated Associated Airliner had a flight on August 30 before it crashed on October 3.

    The committee asked NCAA’s Director of Air Worthiness, Benedict Adeyileka, for the name of the inspector assigned to the ill-fated airline and if he was type-rated.

    Adeyileka named Engineer Harrison Adigwe as the person assigned to the crashed airliner.

    He described Adigwe as a qualified inspector.

    The committee was worried that an official, who was assigned to Wing Aviation, which crashed in Calabar and also assigned to Dana Airline, which crashed in Lagos, was still in the NCAA.

  • House Committee: Culprits risk five-year jail

    Anyone found culpable in the controversial purchase of two bulletproof BMW cars for the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, risks five-year jail term without an option of fine, a member of the House of Representatives, Jumoke Okoya-Thomas, said yesterday.

    The House Committee on Aviation probing the purchase of the vehicles, however, postponed the investigation till tomorrow, when it discovered that the minister was not back from her overseas assignments.

    In a letter to the committee, Oduah reportedly pleaded to be allowed till the first week of November to return from official engagements and prepare for the hearing.

    Okoya-Thomas, the chairman of the House Committee on Public Procurement, whose position was based on the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, noted that no agency of government would claim ignorance of the law.

    Addressing reporters at the National Assembly yesterday, the lawmaker noted that with the hearing on the procurement, the minister had a case to answer with the committee.

    She blamed the government for not empowering the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) enough to execute its duties.

    Okoya-Thomas said approvals and threshold should not be overlooked, because the law was clear on it.

    She added: “Section 58 (5) of the Public Procurement Act states that ‘Any persons, who, while carrying out his duties as an officer of the Bureau or any procuring entity, who contravenes any provision of this Act, commits an offence and is liable to a conviction of cumulative punishment of (a) a term of imprisonment of not less than five calendar years without any option of fines and (b) summary dismissal from government services.

    “I did not put this law there. The will to implement it is key to sanitise this country and check excesses.

    “Any argument on lease purchase does not hold as long as they are going to pay with public funds. To say that the NCAA is within the threshold makes it look like splitting the budget, which is another case on its own under the Procurement law.”

  • ‘We don’t have documents on cars’

    The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) yesterday replied Lagos lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), on his request for the documents on the two armoured cars for Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah.

    The agency said it did not have the documents on the purchase of the controversial N255 million cars.

    In a statement by NCAA’s spokesman, Mr Fan Ndubuoke, the authority said it had the documents on the lease finance agreement for the procurement of operational, security and safety vehicles.

    The NCAA said the documents were intact, adding that they were in this year’s appropriation.

    The statement reads: “It is pertinent to restate here that the NCAA, indeed, has no documents for the purchase of the bulletproof cars for the Minister of Aviation, as demanded by Lagos lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN).

    “Instead, the NCAA has documents on the lease finance arrangement for the procurement of operational, security and safety vehicles for the use of the authority, as provided for in its 2013 appropriation.

    “All these documents are already in the public domain and have also been deposited with the various committees looking into the matter.

    “The public is hereby enjoined to discountenance the innuendoes, which tended to suggest that the NCAA does not have any documents at all on the bulletproof vehicles.

    “It must be made clear here that Mr Falana specifically requested for the documents on the procurement of vehicles for the Minister of Aviation.”

  • N255m cars: Facebook users want Oduah sacked

    N255m cars: Facebook users want Oduah sacked

    Facebook users have called for  Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah’s removal over the alleged purchase of two armored cars worth N255 million naira.

    The Nation Newspaper had subsequently sought the pulse of the masses on the issue on its Facebook Page.

    Of over 2, 000 submissions, below are some of the randomly selected comments by Nigerians:

    Victor Maverick Amos In more decent climes this question would be illegal. The right one should be- how many years should this woman spend behind bars?

    Nura Muhammad Nasan So sad, so worried concerning leadership in Nigeria. Its indicate that both the Lower and Upper House of the National Assembly lack some democratic elements
    that make them to fail woefully. Its obvious that the current adminstration has no direction and make corruption its priority. Just of a recent, the presidency defending fraud of about $1.6billion(N255million) by Aviation Minister… This is a shame. 225million can drill five hundred and ten (510) boreholes at #500, 000 per borehole, and this can be distributed to one borehole per Local Gov’t Area in the Country, 510 LG will benefit from it, one thousand (1 000) citizens will benefit from each bolehole daily, a total of 510 000 will benefit from… Therefore, Government should terminate her appointment.

    Amadi Augustine She bought two amoured cars for and over what? Is she going to war? The next thing now is some people are after her life. The level of wastage in this country has never been witnessed by any country in sub-Saharan Africa. Except that we have no shame, otherwise she would have resigned by now. This is sheer greed common with Nigerian political leaders no matter the political party. Compare Stella Oduah with Dora Akunyili, it is a far cry. Akunyili exhibited tact, altruism and above her life when she was shot by fake drug manufacturers. Oduah should hide her head in shame.

    Gloria Ernest-Samuel Yes! She ought to have resigned. It is insulting that someone like her could still wait to be sacked. She is shameless. I used to admire her. I thought she was as pretty on the inside as she is on the outside. If I were in her position, I will apologize to Nigerians and resign. That is what integrity is all about, but she lacks that. She’s just one of those roguish politicians.*sighs* I pity her family.

    Oluwatoyin Olagbaju It’s all about having moral courage and an undiluted patriotic zeal. The idea is to embark on a wholistic revamping of The Populous Giant Of Africa, NIGERIA; Giving the plethora of air mishaps and near mishaps that we’ve had in this country, which are hardly ever due to pilot incompetence or contrary weather, rather, we always hear reports of aircrafts having mechanical or parts problems. If the allegation(s) levelled against Ms. Odua is legitimate, then I don’t see any reason why we need to have disgruntled Nigerians, conscripted or otherwise in red tee shirts and placards, demonstrating against her continuance as The Minister for Aviation…A highly sensitive parastatal, I must add; She, Ms Odua should naturally and in honorable conscience tender her resignation, in the best interest of the Nation’s Posterity and in fact, constitute a team that should not only proffer solution(s) to our current predicament in that sector but also give suggestions as persons/seasoned professionals who may best serve as Nigeria’s Aviation Minister… The Aviation sector is too intricate for political appointments.

    Adebayo Idowu While other Nations have Leaders Nigeria is Blessed with Looters of treasury, thieves, embezzlers, liers & haters of the truth. She is one of those who claim to be leaders but re looter let her go the way he likes goes. U can be sure she will get National honor

    Oyetunji Oyegboola Babatunde  mr president should sack her and after dat he must prosecute her nd jail her 4 dis corruption dat she committed………… ASUU is on strike nd those stupid elements called politicians are buying exotic cars without fulfilling d agreement btw ’em nd ASUU.

    Akor Austin If every minister decides now that their lives are not safe and goes for cars like dis, what will happen to Nigeria? Only one person, 2 cars worth 1.6, its not fair,see hw the masses are sufering and just one person alone is spending this amnt of money on cars in the name of protecting her life. It is true, it is nothing compare to what others have stolen, but it has to stop, the harmmer need to drop on some one so others can take dressing from there.we need to change. Let her GO!!!

    Dave Probity yes!, we don’t want a corrupt leader like her, how can somebody use only N255million to buy only two cars? her car is even cost more than the Britain PM. she should go as nemesis has caught up with her.

    Richii Anayo Nwobasi Her resignation won’t stop corruption in Nigeria n according to report its a trend in the country wt all those in Power~crumbling d financial state of d country more alarming when over ten million Nigerians survive below a dollar day• I sincerely think We should stand together to FIGHT corruption from d top to the street rather than debating over her sack/resignation because whosoever is taking over from her will do worst••Pls where is Bank Ole today? N Cecilia Ibru? The list might go on••My take here~Pls let’s fight Corruption to save our yet unborn generation•

    Dompyal Lombin It is very funny that public officials don’t care about Nigeria’s image. We have come to terms with their corupt tendencies all we ask in return is decorum and a little “think before you act”. Even if the cars were not bought in her name (which i doubt) she should atleast hav had the common sense to reject them for the time bein to focus on a more important issue which is safety of our Airways! She should resign for God’s sake! Nigeria is not a Banana republic

    Uche Chris This accusation is baseless and stupid, some people are just accusing this innocent woman for nothing, because she is under GEJ team and she is working. Those that vows to make the leadership of GEJ ungovernable.

    Baba Shehu Rilwanu No! Bcos she is not d only one in d gov’t. All d higher ranking officers of d country are doing dsame. If d minister should resign the management of d ministry should also resign cos nothing can happen without their concent.

    Magnus Tekpejereme Hwosafe BIG NOOOO. The car was not bought in her name, it’s an official car; and until we get a final investigation report that the cost of the cars were inflated; she should remain in her noble office and continue the transformation works on the aviation industry. No sentiments.

    Onyedika Ezeudu She wil nt resign cos d car was purchased by official duty. D pple that bought that car sopose to be pro

    Augustine Ogbekene Corruption has no language or tribe. It is a disease that afflicts everybody,especially the poor or marginalised. Tax payers’ money is looted and development stalled. It is a scourge that must be fought with all vehemence. Stella odua marched on banana peel and slipped: Due process was not followed and the cost of the cars were outrageously inflated. Management of NCAA and the minister shud go! That is my verdict.

    Omowunmi Olojo She should b SACKED,if she is asked 2 resign, it still d same has helping 2 protect her image.she done tarnish her image by herself.I BEG NA SACK BE HER REWARD”

    Onos Ziregbe The earlier we start dealing squarely with corrupt practices, no matter how minute, the quicker the repositioning of our economy and general well being. Every single corrupt act should be seriously discouraged. SHE SHOULD GO

    James Kayode Infact is like we nigerians we don’t know where we are going how would a single person will used nigeria money to purchase a car of #255m we should all know that if chance permit her she can steal d whole budget of nation bcos she a thief to d core (olle barawo oyin oshi).

    Olabisi Bizzaino Adekanye The agency that purchased the cars should be held liable for any apportioned punishment. The minister should as well be suspended for accepting these gifts. This is a nation where our self-obsessed leaders claim there is insufficient fund when it comes to projects that will be of benefit to d general public, but have the fund to slake their desire. Our Judiciary is nothing to write home about otherwise i would have counselled these culprits are kept safe and sound in Kirikiri for time indefinite.

    Mohammed Abdulkareem She should not only go but also punished along with her GOD father

    Jibrin Idris She will not hence she is not the only corrupt office holder in the country others should resign too no comment

    Ibrahim Balogun she doesnt deserve to resign. let her chop her own too

    Sule Monday what is she doing in that office now,by now stella should be in efcc net or are we waiting untill she use the whole aviation money to buy armored bulletproof jet for her personal use again at taxpayer expense.

    Read more comments HERE

  • N255m bulletproof cars deal illegal, panel told

    N255m bulletproof cars deal illegal, panel told

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, breached procurement laws in the purchase of two BMW armoured cars, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) said yesterday.

    At the commencement of the House of Representatives’ public hearing on the purchase of the cars, the agency could not provide authorisation for the deal.

    The minister was not at the hearing as she was away in Israel on an official assignment.

    The revelations were made by BPP in its response to the committees’s request for correspondences between it and NCAA on the procurement of the two vehicles.

    NCAA was also said to have failed to get the consent of the BPP for the transaction in contravention of procurement laws.

    Mr. Ayo Aderibigbe, a Deputy Director in the BPP, said there were no correspondences between the two. “We have nothing to forward to the House on this matter; we also have nothing on details and dates on the procurement process, including a certificate of no objection, on the purchase of the vehicles,

    “We also have no other relevant documents that could facilitate the process of the Committees’s investigation in the purchase of the two vehicles,” Aderibigbe said.

    The BPP spoke on the procurement of such goods, saying approval must be by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) once it is over N100m and not the Ministerial Tenders Board.

    The procurement that was approved by the Minister was also in breach of the law as the cost of the two vehicles at N255,159m can only be approved by the FEC.

    The agency was also shown to display total disregard for the law with the purchase of the two armoured cars that were removed from the agency’s budget during its 2013 budget defence/presentation at the House of Representatives.

    In addition, the aviation agency also breached the 2013 Appropriation Act by exceeding the budgeted amount of N240m to purchase operational vehicles for N403m.

    Similarly, while 25 operational vehicles were appropriated for, the agency went ahead to procure 54 vehicles.

    The purchase of 54 vehicles instead of the approved 25 cost the agency N643m that would eventually amount to N1,018b, with the instalmental repayment, according to the term of agreement with the bank.

    The Director General of NCAA, Captain Fola Akinkuotu, who was unable to provide information on the Oduah car transaction, said the deal was completed before his assumption of office on August 14.

    He also said though he received handing over notes from all the directors of the agency, none mentioned the procurement of the two vehicles and when he asked questions about it, no one offered any explanation.

    The then Acting Director General, Mr. Joyce Nkemakolom, during whose tenure between April 14 and August 14 the procurement was made, angered the committee by evading questions.

    He could not defend how one unit of the armoured car put at N70m in the memorandum sent to the minister was purchased for N127m.

    When he was asked if the procurement of the vehicles was correct and in consonance with the Appropriation Act, he said it was a lease finance facility and not an outright purchase.

    Nkemakolom failed to cite the relevant sections of the Act to back his claim, but the BPP said the procurement involved government funds.

    He also saw no wrong in overshooting the budget, saying the vehicles were property of First Bank that financed the deal.

    “As we speak, the vehicles are still under the control of the financing bank and we were given approval for N240m for the procurement in the 2013 budget and with this procedure, we can never, never flap that ceiling,” Nkemakolom said.

    The committee said Nkemakolom was lying on oath with documents that showed how NCAA exceeded the number of vehicles approved in the budget with his signature on the document.

    He was also shown another document that confirmed the delivery of the vehicles to the Ikeja office of the agency on August 13, 2013.

    The Chairman of the Committee, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, said her Committee’s only interest was Nigeria and that in line with the mandate of the House aimed to find out whether the purchase was correct.

    She also said the Committee wanted to find out if the purchase was authorised by any Appropriation law, whether NCAA had been complying with the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) on internally generated revenue and whether any minister is entitled to such vehicles under the law.

    The committee adjourned its sitting to Tuesday, asking Oduah, the Chairman of Coscharis Motors and the Managing Director of First Bank to appear before it.

    The Committee requested NCAA to come along with details of banks where it has accounts as well as six months statement from the banks.

    APC: Presidential panel diversionary

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned against any attempt by the “unimaginative spin doctors” of the Aviation Ministry to use politics as a cover for the egregious corruption scandal surrounding the illegal purchase of two armoured cars for the Minister of Aviation.
    In a statement in Lagos yesterday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said it was “most unconscionable for anyone to blame the supposed opposition to President Jonathan’s re-election in 2015 as the reason for the widespread outcry against the monumental corruption and abuse of office engendered by the scandal.”
    It said that the opposition, in particular, “should not be blamed for the justifiable indignation of most Nigerians to the scandal, as Yakubu Dati, who goes by the nebulous title of ‘coordinating spokesperson for the aviation ministry”.
    “Don’t blame him. After all, there is a coordinating minister of the economy, a title unknown to the Constitution) tried to do in his winding postulation on the scandal.
    ‘’What Dati and his co-spin doctors tried to do is to play on President Jonathan’s insecurity as far as 2015 elections are concerned. This is very insulting not only to Nigerians but also to President Jonathan himself, and it will not sell. After all, attempts to blame the opposition for the lingering ASUU strike has also failed. In any case, what is the business of a public servant, who is supposed to be apolitical, about whether a President is re-elected or not?
    ‘’We in the APC have not joined the fray over the Oduahgate scandal since it broke out because we thought this was a straightforward case of corruption and abuse of office that should be summarily dealt with. But President Jonathan has again failed to live up to expectation, thus allowing all manners of clowns to seek to pull the wool over the eyes of Nigerians in the name of defending the indefensible,’’ the APC said.
    The party wondered why President Jonathan will engage in a diversionary and exculpatory strategy of setting up a panel to investigate the scandal, when there are statutory bodies that are supposed to do so.
    ‘’There is precedence on how to handle such a matter. In case President Jonathan has forgotten, his then boss, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, sacked Adenike Grange and Gabriel Aduku, Minister of Health and Minister of State for Health respectively, for spending part of the ministry’s unspent budget. The Permanent Secretary and other top officials of the ministry were also suspended when the issue broke out. No panel was set up before this action was taken.
    ‘’While many may argue that President Jonathan is only following ‘due process’ in dealing with the issue, we counter that he is only seeking to buy time while hoping that the issue will die down. The composition of the panel set up by the President itself supports our stand. It is doubtful if any of the members will act against what they perceive to be the ‘interest’ of the President on the issue,’’ it said.
    The APC also condemned the arrest of Mr. Dino Melaye and other protesters against the Oduahgate scandal in Abuja, saying the police, by their action, have signalled that they will protect corrupt public officials.
    The party said the reasons given by the police, obstruction of traffic and disturbance of public peace, were apparently cooked up to justify their shameful act.
    ‘’The Nigeria Police must learn to operate in accordance with the best practices around the world. Elsewhere, the police will offer protection to peaceful protests, the type that Mr. Melaye led in Abuja, and ensure that their protests are not hijacked by hoodlums, like the hired pro-Oduah protesters who reportedly attacked those protesting against corruption and abuse of office.
    ‘’This is not what is expected of a police force that is maintained with taxpayers fund, and all those involved in harassing and arresting the anti-corruption protesters must bow their heads in shame,’’ APC said.

  • Bullet proof cars: Jonathan moves to probe Aviation minister

    Bullet proof cars: Jonathan moves to probe Aviation minister

    ... Sets up three-man panel

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday set up a three-man administrative panel to probe the reported purchase of two bullet proof vehicles at N255 million for the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah.

    Briefing State House correspondents at the end of Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Jonathan, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Dr. Reuben Abati, said the three-man committee is to be chaired by a former Head of Service, Isa Bello Saleh.

    Other members are the National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki and Dick Iruenaevere. The office of the NSA will serve as the committee’s secretariat.

    The panel, Abati said, is to ascertain whether the purchase followed due process, the main purpose for which they were purchased and any other related issues.

    He said the panel is expected to submit its report within two weeks.

     

     

  • Senate to probe purchase of bullet-proof cars

    Senate to probe purchase of bullet-proof cars

    The Senate Committee on Aviation on Tuesday said that it will carry out thorough investigation into the controversial N255million armoured cars purchased by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

    The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Hope Uzodinma, denied that the upper chamber was unduly delaying in ordering investigation into the alleged car scam.

    Uzodinma explained that the embattled Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah and heads of agencies under her ministry, did not appear before the Senate on Tuesday because his committee is yet to formally invite them.

    Speaking to reporters after plenary in Abuja, the lawmaker stated that the Senate had just approved the votes and proceedings of its sitting on October 8, where the Senate resolved to summon Oduah and other heads of aviation parastatals over frequent air mishaps in the country.

    Uzodinma said: “With the approval of the votes and proceedings of the last Senate session today (Tuesday), containing the summoning of the minister, our committee will now meet within the week to fix the date to invite the minister and other relevant aviation chiefs for questioning on the troubled sector.”

    On why the Senate has not commenced investigation into the N225million bullet proof cars allegedly bought by the NCAA for the use of the minister, Uzodinma said the Senate can only speak after thorough investigation.

    He said, “As the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, I have read a lot on the alleged scandal in the media and I believe other members of the committee are also up to date on the raging issue.

    “However, we cannot jump into the fray of the controversy like that in the strength of media information alone without properly checking our records for facts and figures on whether the alleged vehicles bought were appropriated for or not by the agency that purchased them.

    “Our appeal to the general public for now is that they should exercise patience on the entire crisis bedevilling the aviation sector as the Senate and in particular, its committee on aviation will surely carry out thorough investigation to unravel all issues behind the whole crisis.”

     

  • Reps to probe Oduah’s N255m cars

    Reps to probe Oduah’s N255m cars

    The House of Representatives on Tuesday mandated its committee on Aviation to commence an immediate probe into the purchase of two BMW armoured cars by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for the Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah.

    The decision to probe the $1.6 million car purchase was sequel to a motion brought under matters of urgent national importance by the Minority Whip, Hon. Samson Osagie.

    The House, which has just returned from a three-week break, resolved to mandate the House committee on Aviation to investigate the matter and report back within one week with specific terms of reference that included the following:

    -To find out whether it was correct that the purchase was made and whether the purchase was authorized by any appropriation law. They committee will also determine if the NCAA has been complying with Fiscal Responsibilities Act on the remittance of its internally Generated Revenue.

    – The committee will also find out whether the minister is entitled to such vehicle under any law in Nigeria and whether the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and all anti- corruption agencies are not bound to investigate and prosecute all those involved if no appropriation law approved the purchase.

    – The committee is also to find out whether (even if any appropriation law approved it) the President can retain the services of the minister and all those involved in the matter.

     

     

  • Between the princess and bleeders of the nation

    Between the princess and bleeders of the nation

    Those who had expected Nigeria’s Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah, to maintain a dignified silence in the face of the combustible attacks against her person after last week’s deadly plane crash in Lagos obviously didn’t know how things work here. In saner climes, and regardless of the media hype either justifying her performance or condemning her ineptitude, this beautiful Stella would have tendered her resignation letter not so much for what she has done but for what she has refused to do. We have read stories outside our shores where public servantstendered letters of resignation without waiting to be found culpable in national tragedies of monumental proportions under their watch. Sometimes, it could be a minor indiscretion like spending some office coins to pay for a cup of tea! For crying out loud, there is no way she can exonerate her office from the decay in that sector. Okay, we agree that she is doing her utmost best to fix the inherited rot. Question is: how long must we wait before we stop blaming every jot of tragic indiscretion on the will of God? We might as well do away with all those amorphous regulatory agencies in our aviation sector, including the ministry itself since we now know that, in hugging the skies, every successful landing is dependent on the grace of God. What then is the point in wasting billions of naira buying equipment and servicing personnel that could as well sleep on their hands at the airports while planes keep falling from the skies?

    As a specialised sector, the Nigerian aviation industry would need more than the cosmetic posturing some persons are employing to dab the painted sepulchre. Frequent fliers would readily admit that they do so with trepidation in our airspace. We still lag behind in technical and operational matters even if the minister has performed wonderfully well in rehabilitating some of the buildings in our airports. But with the scandalous and unbelievable stories filtering out from the closets of the airport operators, those parading themselves as regulators of this critical sector ought to cover their faces in shame. No matter how hard they try to twist the tale, they are ultimately culpable in the over 190 deaths that have been recorded through air mishaps in the last two years. Oduah may be right that these things do happen even in countries with the best safety procedures, what she cannot defend is the frequency with which avoidable air accidents occur under her watch. That is why we had expected her to accept responsibility for the latest Associated Airlines crash in Lagos and be more reflective in addressing the issues.

    In quipping that she remains the overall boss of all the other bosses in that sector, Madam ought to know that the buck stops at her table. If she comfortably giggles when being dashed the plaudits for ‘repositioning and transforming’ air travel in Nigeria, why shouldn’t she be at home with taking the knocks for the frequent, needless, avoidable and fatal air crashes? If safety is everything, then it must be all-encompassing. We simply can’t be satisfied with the present shiny structures in most airports while the hangars are laden with flying coffins! It is, to say the least, uncharitable and pedestrian, for anyone to wave the losses as an inevitable act of God. If we accept such illogic, then we may as well accept the savagery of the Boko Haram insurgents as the will of the Creator, clasp our arms and wait for our own violent end.

    Unfortunately, those we should rely on to stop the sickening madness are not in any way better. As usual, they have been quick to anger and have equally threatened fire and brimstone in unraveling the rot that has made death so cheap in the air. But when the chips are down, can we count on them to carry through the threats? Here, I speak of the raving crowd in the National Assembly who, on Tuesday in Abuja, expressed utter frustration at the rate at which planes now crash in Nigeria. But if precedents are anything to go by, we would be deluding ourselves to expect something concrete from the latest summons of Princess Stella Oduah, the heads of the agencies under the ministry and airline operators by the lawmakers. The truth is that these folks have practically done nothing other than contributing their quota to the problem. They rake up as much muck as they can but hardly evolve time-tested solution aimed at avoiding a recurrence.

    Perhaps, if concrete steps had been taken after the June 3rd, 2013 Dana Air crash, we would not be talking about another fresh probe of that sector, including the audit of airlines. We have found ourselves in this mess because we hardly learn from the mistakes of the past. How are we sure that Dana Air’s operations would have been suspended by the aviation authorities but for the unfortunate incident involving one of the aircraft of Associated Airlines? What is the nature of the ‘operational lapses’ that warranted the suspension and how many other airlines patch things up just that they can fly? If it was found out that the crashed aircraft bearing the remains of ex-governor Olusegun Agagu was over 23 years old, then someone should be queried for flagrant display of incompetence for allowing the airline to flout a law, banning such old planes from flying the Nigerian airspace. Or was that not part of the recommendations made at the joint sittings of the National Assembly which probed the Dana Air crash? How many airlines still fly these antiques in our airspace and are the planes really airworthy?

    Of course, Oduah is at liberty to burst into riotous rage if she truly feels that her personality has been smeared on this matter. That’s why we can pardon her for the Freudian slip in which she referred to one of her critics as speaking ‘under the influence of whatever” or ‘ignorant’ or that the particular individual should “hide his head in shame” for what she considered a rabid attack. It must, however, be pointed out that the issue at hand is too serious to accommodate a shambolic response of the inevitability of crashes. I am sure Oduah is aware that the senators who raised questions on the ways she has been running the aviation sector could not, by any stretch of imagination, be drunk neither would they be talking under the influence of ‘whatever?’ These lawmakers raised fundamental questions about the state of the industry under her watch. Could it be true that the crashed Associated Airline plane was under repairs after being grounded for a month and should ordinarily have embarked on a test flight as highlighted by Senator Smart Adeyemi? Is there a dearth of professionals in the industry as noted by Senator Barnabas Gemade? Could it be true that, in spite of the noise the minister has been making about upgrading infrastructure, this nation has the unedifying aplomb of having the worst airport runway in the world as credited to Senator Oluremi Tinubu? And can we ignore the observations made by many of the senators that the industry requires a holistic overhaul as it is already in a state of emergency? These and many other questions beg for answers.

    To underscore the scary scenario trending on the social media, a friend of Facebook, Kester Busugbe, posted an interesting piece on his wall, noting: “The way things are going in Nigeria, soon before air travelers board a plane, they will personally inspect the plane, check the airworthiness, check with the agency that issued it, check the pilot’s competence, make sure that the oil in the engine gauge, check the tire pressure, check if there is enough jet fuel, see the insurance certificate of the aircraft, check the approval given to the airline to operate in Nigeria, check the age of the aircraft, check what part of the world it went for service and ask the manufacturing company if it still remembers the aircraft. After over 100 passengers must have done this, then the plane will be set to fly. So, please come four hours before scheduled take off time.” Laughable as it is, no one can shrug off this reality if we continue with the shadow-chasing in the aviation sector.

    And so, in addressing the issues, the lawmakers need to do more than the usual huffing and puffing after every critical moment in the history of this country. If they cannot bite, then they should stop the hollow barking! If they must rescue us from this free fall, then they must be prepared to get to the root of the rot in the aviation sector, which has thrown many families into permanent throes of unmitigated woes. Good enough, they have been challenged by one of their own, Senator Abiye Sekibo, to be truly committed to their oversight functions by finding out the airworthiness of all the aircraft in the fleet of the airlines operating in the country. If heads must roll in that sector, let the heads roll without any compromise. The time to put an end to the harvest of deaths in the air couldn’t have come at a better time than a period when the engine room of democratic governance, the legislature, is battling to wean itself of the tag of bleeders of the nation’s treasury.

    In case they don’t know, rumour abound in town about how corruption played a major role in the failure to implement the recommendations of reports on past air crashes including the recent Dana crash. Some persons have been said to have sold their conscience for the lure of lucre. Unfortunately, they are doing so at the peril of the larger populace and even themselves. Would they do things differently this time in order to inject some sanity into an industry that is completely rotten? We can only agonise over this question as we set out on yet another journey into finding how and when we got into this mortal mess!