Aviation crisis: Oduah linked with new cars’ scandal

The Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah
who has been in the news over the
purchase of N255 bullet-proof cars has
been linked to another transaction scandal. Oduah has again been strongly linked to
the approval of the purchase of two Lexus
Limousine cars and two Toyota Prado jeeps. The Minister who has been given till
Wednesday (today) to appear before the
House Committee on Aviation which is
currently investigating the purchase of the
two BMW bullet-proof cars may risk arrest if
she fails to honour the House’s invitation. However, during the sitting by the Senate
Committee on Aviation which is probing the
crisis in the Aviation industry, the Managing
Director of the Federal Airports Authority of
Nigeria , Mr. George Uriesi, had disclosed
that the Lexus Limousine cars and Toyota Prado jeeps were still with an unnamed
bank. Having disclosed
that the limousines
were bought for
N60m each , Uriesi
denied having
details of the cost of the Prado jeeps. He had disclosed
further an
unnamed bank
that financed the
purchase of the
vehicles, hence he had no full details. The FAAN boss
further explained
that though the
Aviation Minister
gave the approval,
someone whom he did not mention
signed on his
(Uriesi) behalf. Chairman of the
Senate Committee on Aviation, Mr. Hope
Uzodinma, had vehemently blamed him for
receiving approval from the Minister and
not from the Federal Executive Council. He was finally asked to appear before the
House with all documents relating to the
transaction on Monday for further
investigation. The panel is expected to also inspect the
N255m bullet-proof cars parked at the
Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport,
Abuja, as part of its investigation.