More facts emerge on Oduah car scandal

Embatled Minister of Aviation

More cans of worms were thrown up  on Wednesday in Abuja  during  the public hearing  by  the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation on the controversial N255m bulletproof cars purchased by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

But the woman at the centre of the scandal, Ms Stella Oduah, dared the committee   as she again reneged on her promise to honour an invitation earlier extended to her.

Her absence however  led to  a near  disagreement between the Committee Chairman, Mrs. Nkiruka Onyejeocha, and a member, Jerry Manwe.

Manwe had complained that the committee started proceedings without first clarifying why Oduah, who is the Minister of Aviation,  was absent.

He said, “We adjourned  (on Tuesday)to take the minister today (Wednesday). Why is she not here?

“She should have been the main issue today (Wednesday).

“The  absence of the minister (Oduah) is a slap on the face of the House.”

Responding, Onyejeocha argued that the hearing was not about Oduah alone.

She overruled Manwe and moved on to  hear  the officials of the  Nigerian Customs Service, Coscharis and First Bank Nigeria Plc  state their roles in the purchase of the cars for Oduah by the NCAA.

 The committee chairman  later read  a   letter from the Ministry of Aviation  in whicn the  minister explained why  she   could not make   the public sitting.

Source:AP/Punch Newspapers