Bulletproof cars: Oduah sets up panel to investigate source of information leakage
The Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, has allegedly set up a panel to investigate how information about the N255 million used for two bullet-proof cars, bought for her by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), leaked to the media.
Reports indicate that the newly set up panel is headed by the Director of Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Mr. Adamu Abdullahi.
The panel was empowered to investigate the NCAA finance department and information unit to try to ascertain how the information became public knowledge.
According to the reports, both units have been informed of the investigation.
It was also learnt that individuals or staff of any departments found guilty may be sanctioned.
It is, however believed that such information might have leaked from any number of sources including First Bank of Nigeria, NCAA or Coscharis Motors – the trio involved in the transaction.
An online medium, had on October 15 published documents that revealed that NCAA had in August this year bought two bullet-proof BMW cars at the whopping sum of N255 million for Stella Oduah.
The minister spokesperson later justified the purchase, claiming that “Oduah's life was in danger and she needed not one but two cars as she embarked on a transformation agenda of Nigeria's troubled aviation sector”.
Since the publication on Tuesday, condemnation had greeted the action of the aviation ministry.
Some Nigerians also demanded that the minister should resign on account of corruption or mismanagement of public funds.
One of them, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) censured the Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah over the purchase of the bulletproof vehicles.
Speaking on behalf of the Coalition, its Executive Chairman, Comrade Debo Adeniran averred that spending such money on cars compromises the safety of Nigerians.
The anti-corruption crusader however called on the anti-graft agencies to investigate the matter and prosecute anyone found to have abused his office.