The online news portal, saharareporters, had claimed that it obtained documents which showed the paper trail of the transaction involving Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), First Bank and Coscharis Motors. The cars were purchased by NCAA from Coscharis Motors, paying through accounts with First Bank.
But speaking yesterday, the special assistant on media to the aviation minister, Mr. Joe Obi, said that when the minister came on board with her reforms, which included reversing some concessions and agreements that were not in the interest of the people and government of Nigeria, “a lot of entrenched interests felt that they had been dislocated from the sector. The minister began to receive series of threats to her life, but because of the general lack of security in the land, she did not want to raise an alarm but kept it quiet and then decided to protect herself. So those vehicles were purchased in response to the general state of security in the land and the personal threats to her life because of the giant steps she has taken to reposition the sector.”
He said that the minister had been trailed several times and that there were clear and present dangers to her life which were averted or neutralised.
On why N127.575 million for each of the car, Obi said they were special purpose vehicles, even as he explained that the utility vehicles were bought in the name of the Minister of Aviation and not in the name of Stella Oduah.
“Normally, you don’t buy one utility vehicle but you buy two at a time because you must have a back-up for public officials. The level of exposure which came with her job warranted the purchase of the vehicles. As a private citizen, she never had these vehicles,” he added.
However, the general manager, Public Affairs of NCAA, Mr Fan Ndubuoke, said he was unaware that such vehicles were purchased for the minister. “I cannot comment on something I know nothing about,” he insisted.
When contacted, the coordinating general manager, Aviation Agencies, Mr. Yakubu Dati, corroborated Obi’s response - that threats to the minister safety prompted the purchases- and said that he had nothing more to add.
Efforts to contact Coscharis Motors were unsuccessful as its officials failed to pick their calls and refused to answer a text message sent over the issue.
I think the aviation sector should come up with d reforms that she did that attracted threats. What reforms? 255 milion naira cars for security. These people are so self centred. I am sure if not exposed, she would later claim ownership of the vehicles. Truly, we need human reforms I our public sector
ReplyDeleteBunch of thieves,
ReplyDeleteExpenses of this nature and on this scale should require direct Presidential approval. it is wrong for a Minister to withdraw this amount of money from her department's operating expenses to purchase armored cars for herself. This is financial recklessness which unfortunately is prevalent in a society where people are struggling to barely survive. If Odua fears so much for her life that society as a whole has to bear the brunt of her fear, then she should resign and move on. Her action is totally unjustified.
ReplyDeleteThis is a response I have found spot on. Unfortunately she is not alone in the jamboree, she is probably a late entrant. Sizeable number of her coll have theirs.
DeleteEarlier Datti claimed it was all rumor. Now deyv accepted dey bought it fr security threats over her life . Anyway wotever we d masses will blab out frm now till thy kingdom come will hav little or no effect . All we hav to do is act quick ! #revolution .
ReplyDeleteAnd there is no money to settle ASUU. I cant blaim dis woman @all afterall EFCC is broke
ReplyDeleteOduah! Do real have the fear of GOD in ur heart? if you bought the cars 4 ur own safety what about the safety of the passenger boading airline. will u b happy if any of ur family is involved in plane crash because of incompetence & greedness. which kind of mother r u? the cars cost 96m not 255m you made us 2 belief. efcc shld investigate & take necessary actio if found guilt. mushafau kzr
ReplyDeleteThis is the height of financial recklessness,imagine 2 @ a ttime cos she must have a back up,what a wasteful leaders we have here,spending such amount @ d expense of taxpayers,this's clearly not the kind of leaders we want,God save us from this monsters.
ReplyDeleteSomething is definitely wrong. Many questions are begging for answers; Was this included in d NCAA budget for 2013? Why was the ministry's requirement paid for from NCAA budget and not the ministry's? Does the purchase comply with the Public Procurement Act 2007? We can go on and on. EFCC must wed in immediately.
ReplyDeleteThe EFCC itself is a toothless bulldog! Dancing to the tunes of the President
DeletePossibly they have too. Are they not more at risk?
DeleteWe ALL shall stand b4 our creator/maker to give account of our stewardship whilst here on earth. God is watching with what we are doing with every kobo committed into our hands as leaders. A day of accountability is drawing nigh.
ReplyDeleteWe ALL shall stand b4 our creator/maker to give account of our stewardship whilst here on earth. God is watching with what we are doing with every kobo committed into our hands as leaders. A day of accountability is drawing nigh.
ReplyDeleteThreat 2 whose life & because of what? No ! Not reforms in d aviation Ministry but some other reasons known 2 d m(s)inister & her close aides. D alleged threat is just a hoax,I now gree say, FFK is absolutely right that d woman is a disaster 2 d aviation industry.She shld go b4 causing more havoc.Tana Alpha.
ReplyDeleteNo be small thing.which reform self na how dey go kill more people or how dem go steal more money.abeg make them chop there own as this government na chop chop government.
ReplyDeleteGod is watching. A day of accountability is coming when we shall account for every kobo we have spent as Leaders in this country. A day when when we shall stand bare/naked before our maker/creator. God is watching.
ReplyDelete255 million naira for security cars is an ''act of GOD''..........useless and most corrupt minister. Leave her alone very soon the most high GOD will surely descend on them and definitely they will all pay back even more than 100 folds including their family.
ReplyDeletethe 2 prominent women in GEJs government: Deazeani and Stella happens to be her girlfriends and they are the MOST RECKLESS SPENDERS......More reasons to vote out PDP in 2015! Nigerians, open your eyes.
ReplyDeleteU tink say dis our village president has d lever to sack her? U can ask Asari Dokubo may b he can do something about it, bcos he and Clark r in contol.
ReplyDeleteNo need to shed anymore blood over her recklessness my friend, the nation has always got the power to sack or impeach anyone through the democratic way.
ReplyDeleteWhy is it just now that we are hearing about reforms, threats, purchases etc. Are there anymore skeletons in her closet. Has she turned her house into a maximum security prison too? Lady!!!!!!! If the fire's too hot, GET OUT OF THE KITCHEN!
I know our senators will never do anything about it or any other thing for that matter because they belong to the same cult. My opinion get rid of senators and reps who do not give you your votes or moneys worth of representation.
One day when we are in a position to probe and find any politician guilty of abuse of office and actually put in jail by its own present government, Then and only then will we be truly free and democratic.
One other question though, who else has wasted more money meant for our educational infrastructure buying these armoured cars? Nemesis, retribution will catch up one of these days very soon.
Buying a bulletproof car, is that an act of God as u normaly say rubish...u dnt wanna die bt u like masses 2 die ryt.
ReplyDeleteThat money can pay the salary of about 45 old profesors in a year (6m X 45= 260m) or better still pay a professor for a period of about 40 years (throughout his career). God is watching
ReplyDeleteHmmmm....vultures at the backyard!
ReplyDeleteNigerians expect that the minister would have reported to the IG of police if there are any threats directed to her and the security agencies are supposed to arrange security measures and not the minister to resort to purchasing the vehicles. Nigerians also expect that a full security report is needed to support any request for approval by the executive council before embarking on an expenditure of such magnitude. Any thing short of this is criminal!
ReplyDeleteMr. President, why do you allow such recklessness to continue happening in your administration? What caliber of people have you appointed into your cabinet? Remember that they speak for you, in otherwords all fingers are pointing at you. Agreed that you can hire and fire any minister at will, but how do you want Nigerians to judge your administration when fired a minister over the outcome of a youth election and you have done nothing over financial scandals reported on other ministers. Is this what democracy is and is this how you plan to rule this country even beyond 2015?
ReplyDeleteWell, this is another reason why NIGERIA as a nation needs special prayers.Assuming there is somebody somewhere above her in authrity and power we would have said, Let's wait a bit to hear from that individual. But unfortunately HE is there snoring and slumbering, dreaming of 1520.Only GOD can change the unfortunate atmosphere in NIGERIA.Nigeria is unfortunately endowed with sensless leaders
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ReplyDeleteMust you remain as a MINISTER?. Barau!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat is the difference between this scandal and what Bode George did? Bode was jailed and this woman will scot free.
ReplyDeleteO ya, post the threat letters as evidence. So we can justify the end
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing wrong wt d purchase.Every Dick and Harry want to be a critic.Most of u condemning Oduah do not even know d basic definition of a ministry,let alone knowing what it takes to run a government,"give flower to a cynic,he turns around to demand for the gutters"
ReplyDeleteWanted to be silent on this issue but it seems like an expensive burden to carry on my conscience. For what its worth the action of mrs Stella Oduah is clear recklessness,abuse of public office with impunity as well.Surviving one more year with the GEj led regime is what m praying God gives me the strength for. He's a lost cause alongside his entire cabinet
ReplyDeleteif the reason for the purchase of the armoured cars are becuase of her safety given her reforms in the aviation industry which is aimed at giving us a good aviation industry where the safety of passengers are guaranteed ,then she is right. I agree EFCC should investigate the transactions to find out if fraud is involved. chikina.
ReplyDeleteit is all greed, how can she demand for stupid things like cars, this so called lady can never and never be removed..she was amongst the highest donor during Jonathan's campaign. She dine and wine within the corridors of power, she big..she got oil blocks during the babangida/abacha time, she owns SPG oil and gas, she has fleets of cars, houses scattered all over Lekki, Ikoyi, VI...and massive mansion in VGC, what else does she wants in life, she got all these because of her might at the Federal at the expense of the general public, and some stupid illiterates will come to defend her, if she were my sister i would have disowned her ever since, her village does not have pipe borne water...so many to say, but....
ReplyDeletei just need tokunbo camry for my security purpose
ReplyDeleteDora Akuyinli (former NAFDAC boss) stepped on more toes than Odua yet she didn't order BP customised car. So what's ur problem Odua? If not greed. Let's all watch how uncle Jona will handle this.
ReplyDeleteWat is efcc doing abt dis allegation,do we rilly av efcc or dey r use to witchhunt political opponent,
ReplyDeleteThis is to say that the laws are made for the common people, otherwise where is the office of due process when all these are happening. Who knows how many of such transactions have been made; NIGERIA i hailed thee!!!! FRESH AIR INDEED. I salute the person who has brought this to the public domain. There are many cases like this; lets not be BAD FOLLOWERS were we have BAD LEADERS.
ReplyDelete