The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission and the Independent
Corrupt Practices and other related
offences Commission are at a crossroads
over the investigation into the purchase
of N255m bullet-proof cars for the
embattled Minister of Aviation, Ms.
Stella Oduah, SUNDAY PUNCH can
authoritatively report.
Oduah on Thursday had denied that the
NCAA bought the two bulletproof cars
for her use, adding that they were
bought for the use of the guests of her
ministry.
Our correspondents gathered on Friday
that the EFCC and ICPC were reluctant
to invite the minister for questioning
because of her close relationship to
President Goodluck Jonathan. Oduah
emerged one of the President’s closest
aides following the significant role she
played in Jonathan’s 2011 election
campaign.
There have been reports that the two
anti-graft agencies are investigating
Oduah’s role in the controversial vehicle
purchase.
However, SUNDAY PUNCH learnt that
none of the two anti-graft agencies had
made progress in its investigation.
A senior official of the ICPC, who spoke
to SUNDAY PUNCH over the weekend,
blamed the slow pace of investigation on
what he described as the “body
language of the President.”
The source, who pleaded anonymity
because he was not authorised to speak
on the matter, said, “If the President
wants us to probe her, there would be
no need for him to set up a three-man
panel to probe her. Why set up a panel
when the nation has capable anti-graft
agencies?
“Ordinarily, the President should have
asked us to take over the case instead
of constituting his own panel. If you
watch his body language, you will know
that he does not want us to step in.
“We will wait for the report of the panel
and the final report of the House of
Representatives. That is when we will
know what to do. The truth is that we
are not fully autonomous anti-graft
agencies and that is a major handicap.”
Our correspondents also gathered that
the EFCC was treading carefully and had
no plan to invite Oduah to its Abuja
office for questioning. A senior agency
official who pleaded anonymity said the
agency “did not want to incur the wrath
of the President”.
The reliable source said, “We are doing
our best in this situation but this is a
peculiar situation because the President
has asked his committee to investigate
her. Even though we don’t need the
President’s directive based on the public
outcry but the formation of that three-
man panel passes a subtle message. We
are also waiting for the report of the
House and the President’s panel even
though we are questioning the aviation
agencies.”
Meanwhile on Monday, Oduah is to
appear before the three-man
administrative panel set up by Jonathan
to investigate the scandal.
Jonathan had, in the wake of public
outcry over the matter penultimate
Wednesday, constituted the panel
headed by a former Head of Service of
the Federation, Mr. Isa Bello.
Other members of the panel are the
National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo
Dasuki (retd.), and Air Vice Marshal Dick
Iruenebere (retd.).
Bello told SUNDAY PUNCH exclusively
on Friday that the panel had contacted
Oduah and that the minister would
appear before members on Monday to
answer questions bothering on the
purchase of the cars.
The former HOS faulted media reports
that the committee, which has two
weeks to carry out its assignment, had
not met since it was set up.
“Whoever told you that we have not
met told you a blatant lie. We have
been meeting and we will meet with
the minister on Monday,” he said.
Bello also told one of our
correspondents that the committee’s
two-week deadline would expire
November 11.
He said although the announcement
about the committee was made
penultimate Wednesday, their letters of
appointment were dated October 28,
hence their timeline would start from
that date.
“It is not true that our deadline started
running from penultimate Wednesday.
Our letter of appointment was dated
October 28, so it could not have been
last Wednesday. You don’t just listen to
(the details of) appointment on
television or radio,” he explained.
In announcing the establishment of the
committee penultimate Wednesday,
Special Adviser to the President on
Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati,
had said members were expected to
ascertain whether the procurement of
the vehicles followed due process.
SUNDAY PUNCH also learnt that the
committee had been holding its
sessions behind closed doors in the
office of the National Security Adviser
which serves as the committee’s
secretariat.
In a related development, the Minister
of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is
to appear before the House of
Representatives Committee on Aviation
on Monday.
The committee is investigating the
purchase of N255m BMW bulletproof
cars ahead of the report of the probe.
The committee took the decision
following Thursday’s clarification by
Okonjo-Iweala that she did not grant
any waiver for the importation of the
controversial bulletproof cars.
The panel, which was given one week to
conduct the investigation, had wound
down its public sitting on Thursday after
drilling Oduah for several hours.
However, it said on Friday that the
report would have to incorporate the
testimonies of Okonjo-Iweala.
A member of the panel, Mr. Zakari
Mohammed, told SUNDAY PUNCH in
Abuja that it had resolved to hear the
finance minister on Monday.
He added that writing the report would
come after hearing the coordinating
minister of the economy.
Mohammed, who doubles as the
spokesman of the House, explained that
the committee could still meet the one-
week deadline.
He spoke further, “It is true that we
were given one week for this
assignment. However, the one week is
counted as sitting days.
“We have sat three times; meaning
three days out of seven days. We plan
to take the finance minister on Monday;
that will be four days out of seven.
“We will have three days left; so, we are
still within schedule.
“The minister made a statement that
she did not grant waivers for the
bulletproof cars.
“That is interesting. Let her come
before us to clarify the statement and to
explain the nature of the waiver she
granted.”
Okonjo-Iweala stated on Thursday that
she only granted waiver to the Lagos
State Government to import 300
vehicles for the hosting of the National
Sports Feastival (EKO Games) last year.
The statement, which was signed by her
Special Adviser, Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu,
noted that the waiver did not cover
bulletproof cars.
The Nigerian Customs Service had
informed the panel that the Federal
Government lost N10.1million revenue
as a result of the waiver.
It disclosed that it later discovered that
the bulletproof cars were among the
vehicles Coscharis imported. Coscharis
had told to the panel that it got a waiver
but gave no satisfactory answers on how
the bulletproof cars were included on
the list.
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