N225m Oduah Armored Car: FG begins Manhunt for Those Who Leaked Documents

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Saturday, October 19th, 2013

Muyiwa Bamidele, Abuja

The Federal Government of Nigeria has expressed concern over the way information concerning the two controversial BMW armored cars bought for the Aviation Minister, Ms Stella Odua was leaked to the press.

Minister of Aviation Stella Oduah

African Examiner gathered that the officials are beaming their searchlights on the staffs of the ministry in which one of them is said to be on the run.

Briefing journalists on Friday in Abuja, the Director-General of NCAA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu alleged that the information about the cars was obtained illegally and thus constitutes criminal offence.

He further justified the purchase of the vehicles saying it was not for the use of the minister only but for the aviation related operations.

Though the NCAA’s position contradicts the statement of the minster’s aide Joel Obi who said the purpose of the cars was to protect the minster from death threat following some reforms she did in the aviation sector.

On how the information gets to the public, Akinkuotu added, “I am not saying that this particular information should not be put in the public domain. But how it was obtained is the concern.”

According to him “If somebody breaks into an office and makes copies of official documents, then the break-in has become criminal.”

He also said that the ministry is in process of trying to find the source of the leakage expressing fears that other confidential documents of equal importance may still be in the hands of those who leaked the story.

Meanwhile as controversy over the two armored cars rages on, the anti-corruption network in Nigeria has called for the resignation of the minister within 72 hours.

The Secretary General of the anti corruption network, Dino Melaye who made the call at a press conference in Abuja, said if the minister fails to resign within the stipulated time, the network and other civil society will embarked on massive protest across the country.

According to the anti corruption network, the N255 million funds used to purchase the armored vehicles was not captured in the 2013 budget, as result of this, Melaye called on the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to explain to Nigerians where the fund was raised.

Dino also argued that the contract for the procurement of the two controversial cars was inflated far above the cost price noting that the new armored cars were even more expensive than the Presidential armored cars.