N255m Armoured Car Scandal: “Oduah Ought To Be On Suspension Pending Investigation”

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News, Sunday Fase Wednesday, October 30th, 2013

By Oludare Sunday Fase (The African Examiner)

Many Nigerians are not satisfied with the way President Goodluck Jonathan is handling the allegation of frauds as exposed in the fraudulent purchase of two BMW armored cars for N255 million for the minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah.

Civil rights groups are not buying the idea of the the probe panel set-up by the president to investigate the allegation. They described the president’s action as diversionary even as they further questioned why is the minister still supervising the ministry while she is under investigation.

AVIATION-MINISTER-Stella-Oduah

One of those groups that is not satisfied with how the President is handling the Oduah gate is Transform Nigeria Citizens Initiative, an international organization whose vision is to develop the critical mass of citizens who are not only aware of their civic rights but also understand the need to fight for such rights

In a statement signed by an executive member of the group Mr Daniel Elombah, the group explained that the whole drama gets more alarming and shameful as proceedings at Senate Committee on Aviation which is probing the crisis in the Aviation industry reveals Ms Oduah may have also approved the procurement of additional two Lexus Limousine cars and two Toyota Prado jeeps.

The statement reads in part:

“We reject and will oppose in its totality any attempt by the presidency or the National Assembly to shield her from prosecution as the country’s anti-corruption agencies ought to have swung into action against her immediately if the current administration truly abhors corruption.

“Ms Oduah ought to have been suspended with immediate effect to allow for proper and unbiased investigation to be carried out.

“We also frown at the ethnic dimension, comments and street actions that the issue has taken, cautioning those we describe as tribal lords and lynch mobs on the two divides that such biased sentiments would hardly achieve an objective basis for establishing the culpability of the public officers involved in the matter. Corruption has no colour, no ethnicity, and no tribe.

“Justice is blind; If Prof. Barth Nnaji despite his achievement in the power sector could be kicked out because of conflict of interest, we see no reason why the Aviation Minister should still be on her seat, supervising the ministry, while investigations that may lead to revelation of more corrupt practices carried out under her and her cohorts are going on.

“Let the law take its course, there should be no soft landing for anyone found culpable of this miasmic corruption. Any pardon granted to impunity is a license granted, that any appointed or elected government official can commit any crime and go scot-free.

“Ms Oduah’s continuous stay in the President Goodluck Jonathan administration is already a big stain and embarrassment to the country. While the president may have taken enough darts for his appointees, this one of Oduah is one that will sink him into political oblivion should he decides to associate with her if found culpable.

“We at Transform Nigeria Movement agree that Oduah is not the most corrupt Nigerian, but the process of cleansing the Augean stable has to start from somewhere, and if it begins with her, so be it. Let the change start now! This is our time to end this madness!”

-By Sunday Fase