How Coscharis lied to Okonjo-Iweala, NSA Dasuki to cover up Stella Oduah’s N255m armoured cars

Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

The office of the National Security Adviser and the Ministry of Finance gave full approval for the purchase of N255 million two armoured cars for aviation minister, Stella Oduah; but both offices were misled by Coscharis Motors, the supplier of the cars, into believing the cars were meant for last year’s National sports festival in Lagos.

While the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, approved the importation of the security vehicles and issued the End User certificate without knowing they were meant for Ms Oduah; finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, approved a huge waiver of import charges totalling N10.1 million.

Insiders in the office of the NSA had exclusively confirmed that the office did not approve any end user certificate for armoured cars procured for either Ms. Oduah and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA.

In official correspondences, it appeared both officials were led to believe the two cars, which in fact were for Mrs Oduah, were required by the Lagos state government as part of 300 cars needed for the 2012 National Sports Festival hosted by the state, according to testimonies at Wednesday’s hearing of the House aviation committee investigating the car scandal.

Lawmakers fumed at the deceitful scheming by the car supplier which swindled Nigerians of millions and breached Nigeria’s customs and security regulations but went without detection by the NSA or the finance ministry.

Details of how Coscharis used the Lagos sports festival as a cover to deliver the armoured cars for Ms. Oduah were first provided by the Nigerian Customs on Wednesday.

A deputy comptroller general, Manasa Jatau, the Customs could not act against the importation or charge any fee because it was provided the clearances obtained from the two key offices that should grant approval.

“The importers did not refuse to pay duty. They had a waiver,” Mr Jatau said.

Mr. Jatau did not say why Coscharis was allowed to continue to import cars with a clearance granted it for the sports festival that ended in 2012.

The Lagos state government had applied to President Goodluck Jonathan-as only the president has the powers to grant waivers-through the finance minister, seeking concessions for “300 units of BMW, Ford, Land Rover, Range Rover, Lexus, Mercedes, Escalade, Jaguar, and Buses” for the sport festival.

In her approval of November 12, 2012, signed on her behalf by Rose Maranzu, the director, revenue, Mrs Okonjo-Iweala conveyed the “approval of Mr President and Commander-in-Chief to Lagos state government for waiver of import duty, Value Added Tax, ETLS, CISS and other port charges….” on the cars.

But in what is clearly an unethical business practice, Coscharis proceeded to hide under the cover of the waiver granted it for the sports festival to sneak in armoured vehicles for the aviation minister and other clients.

The shocking revelation of what appears the car supplier’s swindling tactic has added a new twist to a controversial transaction that has infuriated Nigerians for more than two weeks.

It also underscored just how effectively government machineries can help spot violations if well utilized. In this case the finance ministry and the NSA missed the signs of abuse by Coscharis.

Cosmas Maduka, the chief executive and founder of Coscharis Motors, said Lagos state came into the mix through what was not an unusual arrangement.

During public events such as the sports festival, he said, governments often reach out to private businesses such as Coscharis, seeking partnership and sponsorship. For the sports festival, held November, Lagos state government needed cars, and Coscharis was willing to help with hundreds of them to be returned after use.

The condition was for the government to provide waiver for the company to import new cars as replacement for the ones used. The used cars will then be sold off immediately they are returned.

The letter from the Lagos government to the ministry of finance for waiver was in keeping with that commitment.

As it turned out, the memo provided a cover for the two armoured cars for Stella Oduah-the Nigeria Customs service said the armoured cars were actually three.

At the hearing Wednesday, the car firm, Coscharis came under a barrage of criticism from lawmakers despite its claim it followed all rules, and did not inflate the cost of the armoured cars as widely believed.

“To the best of my knowledge, we followed all due process. We were interviewed by SSS. We were interviewed by the National Security Adviser. Every due process by law was followed,” Mr Maduka said. “We do business with morality.”

He said attacks on his company, and the entire controversy over the car deal were “politically motivated.”

The company’s claim that its price was fair, was deflated by a member who said he received a quote for the same car from an American firm at nearly half the price.

The committee also accused Coscharis of possibly importing fairly used cars, saying the cars its members inspected at on Tuesday were different from those listed in the series of communications between Coscharis and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA.

But the firm said since it did not inspect the cars with the House members, it cannot say whether that was the car they delivered to NCAA. The NCAA too could not explain the disparity.

Ex-CJN, Uwais, tackles Jonathan, NJC over “unfair” treatment of Justice Salami

Dignitaries at the Justice Salami book presentation

A former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Muhammadu Uwais, said the National Judicial Council, NJC treated the former President of the Court of Appeal, Ayo Salami, unfairly over his disagreement with a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Katsina Alu, which led to Mr. Salami’s suspension from office.

The former CJN also said President Jonathan lacks the constitutional powers to suspend a judge the way he did Justice Salami.

Mr. Uwais spoke Wednesday in Abuja at a public presentation of a book titled Isa Ayo Salami: Through Life and Justice written by Funmi Quadri, a legal practitioner and law reporter based in Abuja.

According to Mr. Uwais, prior to Mr. Salami’s retirement from the bench on October 15, 2013, the former president of the Court of Appeal had been suspended from office for over 30 months, describing it as the “longest period in the history of the Nigerian Judiciary that a judicial officer had been sent on suspension for alleged misconduct”.

The former CJN also traced the genesis of the suspension to the disagreement between Messrs Salami and Alu over how to treat a complaint from Sokoto state concerning an election matter that was pending before a panel of the Court of Appeal. He said the disagreement was taken before the NJC, which subsequently set up a number of committees to examine one aspect or another of the complaint.

“None of the committees found Hon. Justice Salami of any infraction, but the NJC, in considering the report of the last committee set up by it, directed that Hon. Justice Salami should tender an apology to the then Chief Justice of Nigeria within 7 days. This Hon. Justice Salami refused to do, since he was not found guilty of any misconduct,” he said.

Mr. Uwais also said without the NJC asking Mr. Salami to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for disobeying its directive, Mr. Salami was served with a letter suspending him from office, pending his removal from office by the president as recommended by the NJC.

President has no power to suspend a judge

The former CJN also stated that based on section 153 subsection (2) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is the NJC that is vested with the power to suspend a Judge for misconduct, as a disciplinary measure, and not the President.

According to Mr. Uwais, the particular section of the constitution provides inter alia that the powers of the National Judicial Council are “Contained in part 1 of the third schedule to the constitution”.

He said based on the provision of the constitution as highlighted, “Justice Isa Ayo Salami has been unfairly treated by the NJC,” adding that “ It is disturbing, to say the least, that the NJC, whose membership consist of eminent and experienced judges and lawyers, should act in the manner they treated Hon. Justice Salami”.

Nigeria, affected by the absence of Justice

Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, who presented the lead paper at the occasion, which he titled “Justice is never Siddon look” said the country is being affected by the ‘burden of untreated justice’.

While lamenting the high number of unresolved politically related assassinations, Mr. Soyinka faulted the seeming ‘divine intervention’ mindset of most Nigerians.

“How many accusing fingers shall we continue to point awaiting divine intervention? We must stop paying lip service to Justice,” he said.

He however said social injustice could only thrive for a while; “where justice appears to be lost, a higher order of restitution takes over”.

The Nobel Laureate and activist however poured encomiums on Mr. Salami, who he said has an exemplary ‘incorruptible personality’ and is leaving public service with his head held high.

Strong APC delegation

The opposition All Progressives Congress had a strong delegation to the event. The delegation was led by the two national leaders of the party, Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Tinubu. Also part of the APC delegation are three governors from Osun, Ekiti and Zamfara states.

In his short remark, former Governor Tinubu described Mr. Salami in glowing words.

“The story of Justice Salami is instructive. Despite being exonerated by numerous panels of men of integrity, the government refused to re-instate him. Though kept at home, he was a constant thorn in their side because he would not abide by their script. His compass was not the demands of those in power. His compass was the dictates of the law. In another setting, he would have been proclaimed a great and noble man. In Nigeria, he was punished,” Mr. Tinubu said.

Naira rain

The governor of Zamfara state, Abdulaziz Yari, who presented the book at the occasion announced that the eleven APC governors have agreed to purchase 250 copies of the book at a total cost of Fifty Five Million Naira.

Mr. Yari however said all the books are to be distributed to Nigerian Universities.

Mr. Tinubu followed suit and announced that he would pick 25 copies of the book “at a very very handsome amount of money”.

The Acting President of the Court of Appeal, Zainab Bulkachuwa, also announced that the Appeal Court would pick 30 copies for three million naira.

She also announced that the Court would hold a valedictory session in honour of Mr. Salami on Thursday, October 31 by 11 a.m. at the premises of the Appeal Court headquarters.

20-yr-old accused of raping 5-yr-old girl

An Ado-Ekiti Magistrate’s Court, yesterday, ordered 20-year-old Oluyi Oba remanded over alleged rape of a five-year-old girl.

The police prosecutor, Mr. Emmanuel David, told the court that the accused committed the offence on October 22 at 1p.m. in Iyin-Ekiti.

He said the offence contravened Section 218 of the Criminal Code Cap C 16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

The plea of the accused was not taken.

Chief Magistrate Simeon Ojo ordered the accused remanded in prison custody pending the receipt of legal advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution.

He adjourned the case till November 21 for hearing.

Nyiam exposed FG’s hidden plan with confab – Oshiomhole

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, yesterday, said a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue, Col. Tony Nyiam (rtd) has exposed the planned national conference as a fraud, saying excesses of the former army officer showed the conference was being planned to fail.

Oshiomhole’s assertions nonetheless, several participants at the Benin hearing from across the South-South geo-political zone blamed the governor for exceeding the bounds of official decorum and stoking the anger of the audience with his unsavory comments after holding up commencement of the sitting by three hours. They also blamed those supportive of the administration in Benin for instigating the violence against those who booed the governor that day.

Among eyewitnesses at the Imaguero College venue of the aborted hearing, who spoke on the development yesterday, was former Minister of Information, Professor Sam Oyovbaire, who described Governor Oshiomhole as tactless in his conduct that day. He also flayed Col. Nyiam for not exercising discipline in his reaction.

But other eyewitnesses at the venue such as the Regional Coordinator, Niger-Delta Civil Societies and Ethnic Nationalities Congress, Sir Casely Omon-Irabor, National coordinator of the Forum for Justice and Human Rights Defence, FJHD, Mr. Oghenejabor Ikimi, a leader of the Edo Youth Congress, Mr. Kola Edokpayi and deputy chairman of Edo State Civil Societies Organization, Comrade Omobude Agho, both of whom were beaten by thugs at the venue and former Secretary of Ijaw Youth Congress, IYC, Mr. Paul Bebenimibo, rose in defence of Nyiam

Reacting to Col. Nyiam’s defence of his action, Oshiomhole in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Peter Okhiria said:
“Our attention has been drawn to the lame and odious response of Col Tony Nyiam to his shameful action at the sitting of the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue in Benin City, on Monday October 28 where he fully exposed his hand as a biased member of a committee which should be above political, ethnic and indeed other sentiments.

“We wonder when Nyiam became the President’s spokesman as to want to drag the President’s name into his shameful act. We are, however, not surprised, going by his antecedents; the Benin incident was just another manifestation of Nyiam’s lack of respect for constituted authority and his love for disunity.

“Nyiam said Governor Adams Oshiomhole was “talking down on the people”. We wonder when airing one’s opinion or saying ‘I believe that the outcome of this conference will not be different from that of other conferences we have had in the past’ means talking down on the people.

“Nyiam deserves our pity. He might still be hallucinating, thinking he is an Army officer who must be obeyed. We recognize that no military officer worth his salt would openly disagree with a superior or a governor at a forum such as the one in Benin City, but again, we recognize that the maxim “Officer and Gentleman” does not apply to Nyiam as he has once again displayed to the people in the open.

“We find it interesting that Nyiam has exposed the undercurrent motive of the conference which has also confirmed Governor Oshiomhole’s initial fears about viability, necessity and desirability of same.

“In as much as we believe that Nigeria is in dire straits, the Governor still insists that a talkshop with no agenda is not necessary at this time.”

Oshiomhole, Nyiam were wrong  — Oyovbaire

Prof Oyovbaire, who spoke on phone said: “It was wrong for Col Nyiam to have participated in the disruption or trying to stop the governor from continuing with his speech,” adding that he (Oyovbaire) managed to escape when things became rowdy.

He said information that reached him was that the National Dialogue Committee had earlier met with Governor Oshiomhole in his office, where he lectured them on the undesirability of the conference, and some of them were not comfortable with his remarks.

“Having spoken to the committee members in his office, which delayed the commencement of the sitting, I think it was a tactical mistake or tactless on the part of the governor to have come to the sitting to begin to make such statements, as if he is trying to get populist attention,” he said.

Oyovbaire pointed out that whatever Oshiomhole tried to convey with the tone of his statement and sarcastic remarks, “Nyiam as a former military officer, scholar and member of the panel should not have reacted the way he did.”

Oshiomhole got it wrong  —Omon-Irabor

Omon-Irabor said: “We were there as early as 9.00 am and the protocol officials told us that the governor pleaded with conference organizers that the conference should kick off at 1.00 pm, instead of 10.00 am and we registered and waited.

“Already, we knew All Progressives Congress, APC, (Oshimhole’s party) had barred the states it controls from participating in the confab and Oshiomhole had told his people not to attend the event. His coming was, therefore, a surprise because the seats reserved for Senators and other top officials were not occupied.

“We expected Oshiomhole to make a remark and go, but he went into a full criticism of the Federal Government with very derogatory remarks of President Goodluck Jonathan and said he was surprised to see eminent Nigerians gathered to engage in an exercise in futility,” Omon-Irabor said.

FJHD coordinator, Ikimi on his part said:
“The Governor’s personal presentation that the proposed Conference was a sham and a deceit by the Federal Government to hoodwink the people did not go down well with the popular opinion of delegates  present, the above action provoked a number of delegates who resorted to booing the Comrade Governor who was unable to proceed with his presentation.

“However, for peace to reign frantic efforts were made by eminent personalities, including members of the Presidential Advisory Committee, to persuade the Comrade Governor to discontinue his presentation, but all proved abortive.

“I sat on the front row with some of the personalities and I did not see Colonel Tony Nyam (Rtd) or any member of the Presidential Committee leading thugs or exchanging words with the Comrade Governor.

“I think the Comrade Governor should have tactically beat a retreat since the general mood of all the representatives of ethnic nationalities and civil society groups present was in favour of a national dialogue and the least the people wanted to hear was not how a political party and its members felt about the proposed conference”, he said.

Continuing, Ikimi said: “Immediately, the Comrade Governor was ushered out of the venue by his security aides, thugs entered the venue and queried why their governor was humiliated and in the process one Kola Edokpayi, an accredited member of the Edo Youth Congress at the venue was shot by thugs when he had gone to ease himself outside. The said Kola Edokpayi returned into the hall in a pool of blood, and the chairman had no option than to draw the meeting to an abrupt end.”

One Year After Suntai’s Plane Crash, Acting Governor Prays For Ailing Governor

Danbaba Suntai

Taraba State at the weekend marked one year since the crash in Yola, Adamawa State, of a plane being piloted by Governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai, with the Acting Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, leading prayers for his speedy recovery.

In a statement obtained in Jalingo, the State capital, the Acting Governor who has been in a power struggle with a cabal loyal to Suntai, thanked God for “His amazing grace” upon the life of his son,” the governor.

“We thank God, not only for saving the life of His Excellency, but also healing him of the injuries sustained in the plane crash. As we pray God to perfect the healing of our leader, we declare that, our commitment and dedication to his vision and master plan for the transformation of our State remains unflagging.”

He praised Suntai for his achievements in the State, saying that his efforts to change the land and uplift the lives of the people have delivered the expected dividends and with his visionary leadership, things can only get better.

“We thank God for your life and all Has done for you,” the Acting Governor continued.  “We pray that the blessings He has in stock for you will be greater than what we have already seen.”

Reeling out Mr. Suntai’s previous public positions, Umar said, "Surely, only God’s unparalleled mercy can make a man to be a Local Government Chairman, Director General, Board Chairman, two terms Commissioner, Secretary to State Government and to be popularly elected twice as an Executive Governor. Our beloved Governor, we wish you all the best that life can offer.” Umar stated, “Today marks exactly a year, when our leader, brother, friend and associate, His Excellency, Governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai and three of his personal aids miraculously escaped death in the air disaster that happened in the outskirts of Yola, the Adamawa State Capital.”

He further prayed, saying, “We are eternally grateful to the one who made all things, the giver of life and everything, the Almighty God for His amazing grace upon the life of his son, Governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai.

Reeling out Suntai’s previous positions, and expressing optimism, he concluded that “Your Excellency, we have no doubt that your efforts to change our land and uplift our lives have delivered the expected dividends and with your visionary leadership, things can only get better.We thank God for your life and all Has done for you. We pray that the blessings He has in stock for you will be greater than what we have already seen.
"Surely, only God’s unparalleled mercy can make a man to be a Local Government Chairman, Director General, Board Chairman, two terms Commissioner, Secretary to State Government and to be popularly elected twice as an Executive Governor. Our beloved Governor, we wish you all the best that life can offer.”

‘Worst Conspiracy’ Against Police: IGP Warns Banks Against Delays In Salaries

Mr. MD Abubakar, IGP

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. MD Abubakar, has condemned in very strong terms the recurring delay in the payment of salaries of police personnel by some commercial banks involved in the processing of their salaries.

In a statement signed by police spokesman Frank Mba, the IGP described the practice as the worst conspiracy against the Force and warned the banks and their personnel of the dire consequences, including, but not limited to a reconsideration of the existing relationship between the Police and the banks if the trend continues.

Mr. Abubakar made the remarks at Force Headquarters in Abuja today during a meeting with bank representatives.

He described as unacceptable a situation where the Federal Government would release the salaries meant for the Police as early as the middle of the month, only for the banks to deliberately delay payment till the following month.  Such a practice, he stated, has exposed “the officers and men of the Force to undue pressures and extreme difficulties”.

Mr. Mba said the brief meeting ended with immense apologies from the bankers who pledged to ensure speedy disbursement of Police salaries henceforth.  In attendance were members of the Police Management Team; the Director of Finance and Administration, Ministry of Police Affairs; as well as representatives of First Bank, Skye Bank, UBA and Zenith Bank.

Under the current e-payment system, all Police officers receive their salaries directly through the banks, the spokesman noted.

Security Operatives Ambush Boko Haram In Bauchi, Recover 11 AK47s, Rockets, 1000 Rounds Of Ammunition

It has been informed that Nigeria’s security operatives last night ambushed suspected Boko Haram members at a location in Bauchi State. The operatives recovered 11 AK 47 rifles, rockets, grenades and over 1000 rounds of ammunition. A military source who participated in the operations confirmed the development.

According to the source, one suspected Boko Haram member was killed and four were captured alive. He added that several other suspected members fled into a forest, with a combined team of operatives still trailing them.

The suspected sect members, who were traveling in several cars, were reportedly on their way to Azare town when the operatives ambushed them at Gidan Maiwa, in Ningi local government area of Bauchi along the Bauchi-Kano road.

“We got a tip that they were on their way to attack Azare town, and the information was accurate,” said our source. “We ambushed them and we got them in an area called Gidan Maiwa on Bauchi-Kano Road. On sighting us they opened fire and we did same on their cars. We killed one and captured four of them and recovered 11 AK 47, rockets, grenades and over 1000 rounds of ammunition.”

Fraud Rocks FCT, Six AGIS, Administrative Staff Suspended

FCT Minister Bala Mohammed

It was learnt that several administrative staff of the Federal Capital Territory have been suspended over a recently discovered fraud whose monetary scope is yet to be determined.

“It runs into millions of naira,” said a source at the FCT which is under the supervision of Bala Mohammed, a member of President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet.

So far, the fraud has led to the suspension of six administrative members, most of them from the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS). 

The suspended AGIS staff include Oluwadamilola Temidayo Adetiloye, a planning officer, Wasiu Olatunde Olajide, a program officer, Mohammed Mohammed Saba, a land officer, and Danladi Daniel, a clerical officer. Two staff of the Land Administration Department, Yusuf Baba and Blessing U. Nwiyi, were also affected by the suspensions.

Our source disclosed that the suspended staff members were accused of swindling hundreds of millions of naira from thousands of prospective land owners.

Our source quoted FCT Minister, Mr. Mohammed, as warning that he would not spare staff involved in any acts of fraud. The minister added that the suspensions were meant to serve as a deterrent to others who may be tempted to indulge in fraudulent activities, adding that the law must take its course.

However, one of the victims of the land scams confirmed that many other FCT officers were involved in fraudulent activities. He added that the minister had no record of prosecuting or even disciplining corrupt staff members. 

Aviation Minister Bought Six, Not Two Bulletproof Cars, Investigation Group Alleges

Embattled Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah

A group known as Investigative Reporters In Aviation (IRA) has come out with yet another bombshell on the wanton looting of the nation’s financial resources by the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, and her disorganization of the entire aviation sector.

Speaking for the group, Mazi Kanayo Ochei, and Kenneth Uti President and Secretary respectively, said their investigations reveal that in addition to the two cars she forced the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to purchase for her, she also forced the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the Federal Airport Authority ofNigeria (FAAN) to buy two each of the same brand of cars.

“I don’t understand why Nigerian media are shouting about NCAA alone, when a total of six bulletproof cars were actually purchased by the Minister on the bill of three aviation agencies,” they said.

“Our work as IRA revealed that while Nnamdi Udoh of NAMA bought two BMW, Joyce Nkemakolam (Acting DG) of NCAA bought two BMW, and Mr. Uresi George of FAAN bought two bullet-proof American specs limousine for the Minister of Aviation.”

They further stated that all the purchases were made from Coscharis Motors and cannot be denied.

“If Nigerians really know the magnitude of the rot in the Aviation Industry as at this moment, they will carry placards against this administration,” the IRA officials said, noting that the FAAN is heading for bankruptcy, with the MD on the verge of taking a bank loan to pay workers’ salaries last month.

“The only option left for FAAN now is to begin to use part of their statutory remittance to Federation Account to offset their bills.”

On the part of NAMA, the IRA described it as being in disarray, that nobody seems to know what is going on and that the workers have completely lost confidence in the Management. They noted that members of the NAMA staff have threatened on several occasions in the recent past to embark on industrial action based on poor conditions of service and heaps of unpaid allowances.  

“IRA further wants EFCC to call Coscharis Motors for questioning on the six cars purchased by the Minister so as to get to the root of this issue,” they said.

It would be recalled that on October 19, the Director-General of the NCAA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, told a press conference in Abuja that the Federal Government was hunting for the whistleblower who leaked the story of the two scandalous armoured cars the agency bought for Mrs. Oduah at a cost of N225m.

On October 21, It was also confirmed that NAMA had also purchased four Toyota Tundra vehicles for Mrs. Oduah in addition to four stretch limousine cars that were said to have been bought for the transportation of VIPs to the Ministry.

In a statement, Supo Atobatele, the General Manager of NAMA, attacked the report as “frivolous, malicious and mischievous.”

“We hereby make it categorically clear to the unsuspecting public that this evil story  as being promoted, is patently false in its entirety and calculated to put the agency and the office of the minister into disrepute,” he said.

IRA has called on President Jonathan to recognize that only a level-headed, matured and patriotic Minister can help Nigerian Aviation industry, “not a self-seeking, corrupt and proud person like Stella Oduah.”

Furthermore, the group said, “We also want to advise the newly confirmed Director-General of NCAA Fola Akinkotun to stop defending what he knows practically nothing about, while we sympathize with his position, we advise him to stop making any further reckless press statement in any futile attempt at defending those who all Nigerians know how they ganged up to prevent him from taking up the position of the DG NCAA for almost 5 months after he was chosen by President Jonathan.” 

This morning, George Uresi, the chief executive officer of the FAAN admitted to a hearing of the Senate Aviation Committee that the agency indeed bought four bullet proof cars for Ms. Oduah at N70 million each. 

Senate Hears How Nigeria's Aviation Minister Used Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria To Buy Four Other Bullet-Proof Cars

A Senate committee holding hearings into the aviation sector in Nigeria today shockingly heard   how the Aviation Minister Stella Oduah spent $1.6 million on the purchase of two armored cars today, also the committee received further confirmation that the minister received several other cars from another agency under her control.

George Uresi, the chief executive officer of the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), admitted before the Senate’s aviation committee, led by Hope Uzodinma, that FAAN bought four bullet proof cars for Ms. Oduah at N70 million each. SaharaReporters, which broke the news of how the minister forced the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to buy her two bullet-proof BMWs at the inflated cost of $800,000 each, had also subsequently reported that other agencies under Ms. Oduah had also bought her extremely expensive, overpriced cars.

Mr. Uresi’s testimony today confirmed our earlier reports that the minister hauled in at least six armored cars from a variety of aviation agencies.

Our correspondent reported that Mr. Uresi, the CEO of FAAN, sweated profusely as he told Senator Uzodinma’s committee that FAAN bought four bullet-proof cars for Ms. Oduah. “He was sweating bullets even though the committee room was heavily air-conditioned,” said our citizen reporter.

The FAAN boss’s testimony revealed that the transaction resembled how the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) bought two BMW armored cars for the minister at inflated price.

According to Mr. Uresi, FAAN bought two armored Lexus limousine cars and two Prado armored sports utility vehicles (SUVs) for Ms. Oduah. 

Contacted later this evening, a member of the Senate’s aviation committee confirmed that he had heard rumors that the leadership of the committee was looking for ways to cover up Ms. Oduah’s car-buying scandal. “Some of us will not allow anybody to cover up anything,” said the senator.

Senator Uzodinma gave Mr. Uresi till Monday to provide the paperwork for the purchase of the four cars his agency procured for the minister’s use.

Meanwhile, a source who works at FAAN confirmed that the deal for the purchase of the cars was done through a company linked to Ms. Oduah. “The finance department of FAAN was not in the know of the purchase as the deal was done at the minister’s office with Uresi signing off on the deal.”

Although Mr. Uresi admitted to the purchase, he refused to provide the Senate committee members with details of how the deal was finalized with a bank. He also refused to disclose if Coscharis Motors Limited was involved in the latest scandal. Coscharis Motors, which is owned by Cosmas Maduka, was involved in the shady deal for the supply of the two BMWs paid for by the NCAA for the personal use of the minister. It was reported earlier that Ms. Oduah received more than N100 million as kickback after she arm-twisted NCAA officials to sign papers certifying delivery of the two cars. No officials of the agency ever saw the vehicles before signing the delivery documents.  

It had also reported that another agency, National Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), also bought four Toyota Tundras for the minister. After our revelation, NAMA authorities went on a desperate search for companies to claim ownership of four limousines parked at the aviation agency’s TRACON site in Abuja. Today, the Senate asked NAMA officials to bring over the supposed owners of the vehicles along with proof of their ownership.

In the end, NAMA claimed that the vehicles belong to a local airline, Overland Airways. But in a clear indication of fishiness, some other company had called to claim ownership of the limousines.  

Ms. Oduah is expected to appear before the House of Representative tomorrow (Wednesday) to answer questions on the scandal of the $1.6 million she squandered on the purchase of two armored BMW cars.

In the wake of our revelations of the minister’s car-buying spree, she traveled to Israel as part of President Goodluck Jonathan’s official delegation to religious sites in that country.  Mrs. Oduah returned to Nigeria on Monday night  a few minutes after she attended a ceremony where a Bilateral Services Agreement was signed with Israel.

Embattled Stella Oduah Shuns House Committee Hearing As Cars Presented To The Committee Are Different From The Ones Bought By The NCAA

One of the BMW hurriedly taken to the premises of the NCAA yesterday has a different chassis number

Maduka Cosmos, whose Coscharis Motors sold the controversial armoured cars to a department of the Ministry Civil Aviation, has told the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation the matter that his company followed due process.

Mrs. Stella Oduah, the Minister who is implicated in the alleged fraud, is absent at the hearing, from which Premium Times is carrying live updates.

“Absence of the Minister is a slap on the face of the House,” said an angry Jerry Manwe, a member of the committee from Taraba State.  Last week, the committee gave Mrs. Oduah up till yesterday to appear before it, recognizing that she was away in Israel on official duty. 

“To the best of my knowledge, we followed all due process,” Coscharis said.  “We were interviewed by SSS. We were interviewed by the National Security Adviser. Every due process by law was followed. We do business with morality.”

The Deputy Comptroller General of Customs, Manasa Daniel Jatau, has told the committee that Coscharis imported the cars without paying import duties because there was a waiver from the Ministry of Finance.  He added that Coscharis obtained the waiver claiming the armoured cars were part of 300 vehicles being imported for the Sports Festival in Lagos last year.  The impression given, therefore, was that the beneficiary of the waiver would be the government of Lagos State.

15:45

The cars inspected by the House committee yesterday, Tuesday, are different from the ones stated in the documents between NCAA and Coscharis, the reps said.

Lawmakers say they saw cars with different chassis number from those on the communication between NCAA and Coscharis.

But Coscharis said since it did not inspect the cars with the House members, it cannot say whether that was the car they delivered to NCAA. The firm insists it has done no wrong.

15:31

Coscharis admits telling the Ministry of Finance/NSA the cars were meant for Lagos state government, but said the arrangement was a usual “sponsor practice” for an event like the sports festival, and there was nothing wrong with that.

The company insists it did not lie. It said during events the company gives cars for use by government, in exchange for waivers that would be used for importing new ones as replacement.

With a lot of gusto, Coscharis said it price was right. But lawmakers have busted that claim by revealing that the firm sent different prices to NCAA and NSA.

Coscharis also claims the car in question goes for about N87 .7 million(factory price) without tax, shipping etc.

But a lawmaker has confirmed that he received a quotation from an American firm for the same car for about N42 million.

Jerry Manwe( a member): “Your own bullet proof is not manufactured in the moon”

Coscharis says a seven series in America is different with what they got from Europe.

Again, the committee said the cars they inspected yesterday are different9in terms of chassis number) from those stated in the documents between Coscharis and NCAA.

15: 07

Coscharis’ Maduka: To the best of my knowledge, we followed all due process. We were interviewed by SSS. We were interviewed by the National Security Adviser. Every due process by law was followed. “We do business with morality,” he says.

Another Coscharis official: Armoured cars are in levels; Level B7 is the highest for any civilian/VIP armoured cars. More than that is for military tanks.

Coscharis: The controversial cars are level B7. The BMW 760 series, bought by NCAA, goes for 418 thousand Euro from factory without shipping cost, taxes, etc.

Coscharis offers to demonstrate a powerpoint to show how it arrived at the cost. But is disallowed by committee.

14.55

Coscharis’ Maduka: “People have spoken, different media have written, I kept quiet. Nobody has called me to ask anything. But I thank God for this opportunity to state my own side of the story.”

“People have called me from US embassy to ask when did you start money laundering.”

He says the whole controversy is “politically motivated”. He pleads to be allowed to speak.

Mr Maduka said the matter is so important that his Uncle died and will be buried tomorrow, but he has to attend the sitting.

He said he is prepared to give details how Coscharis arrived at the price.

14.46

First Bank asked to step aside. Coscharis takes over.

Coscharis chief, Cosmas Maduka, calls the car scandal “very controversial matter that has made newspaper headlines for two consecutive weeks” as he takes the hot seat.

14.37

First Bank cannot explain how the loan given to NCAA for all its 54 cars climbed from earlier stated N564 million to N643 million.

The bank claimed earlier that the difference was because the two armoured cars were not included-apparently untrue because of the cost.

Under questioning by the committee, the bank now says only the NCAA can explain the difference; the bank says it was only concerned about what the NCAA as a customer asked for.

“Our job as financier are based on what the customers are asking for”

14.29

Interaction with First Bank representative continues…

First Bank: The armoured BMWs were not part of the first order from NCAA which comprised mainly Land Cruisers totaling less than N600 million.

House chair, Nkiruka Onyejeocha: So could it be that the BMWs were an afterthought?

First Bank: That’s for the NCAA to answer.

14.24

“Absence of the minister is a slap on the face of the House,” Jerry Manwe, a member of the committee from Taraba state said, apparently angered by the minister’s absence.

14.23

First Bank official, Seyi Oyefeso, that oversaw the transaction addressed the House committee on behalf of the Executive Director of the bank.

First Bank was invited to make proposals alongside other banks and tender was opened publicly on 21 of May, 2013 in the presence of other banks and media

First Bank was afterwards shortlisted alongside 7 others.

First Bank granted a loan facility of N643 million for purchase of assorted cars.

14.19

The Customs representatives at the hearing said Coscharis lied to the Ministry of Finance and NSA, making them to believe that the cars were for Lagos state government, for the National Sports festival.

The NSA office issued End User certificate without knowing that it was doing so for cars to be delivered to Stella Oduah or the NCAA.

So, in a way, the NSA office is right to have told PREMIUM TIMES it did not issue end user certificate for any bullet proof cars for Minister Oduah and the NCAA.

14.11

Deputy Comptroller General of Customs, Manasa Daniel Jatau, said the following

The two cars were imported through Tin Can Port 2; Imported from Antwerp Netherlands.

The vehicles were cleared 19/6/2013.

Coscharis imported the cars without paying import duties since there was a waiver from the ministry of finance.

Coscharis obtained the waiver claiming the armoured cars were part of 300 vehicles imported for the Sports festival in Lagos last year, and therefore the beneficiary was Lagos state government.

The due import duty should have been N10.1 million.

The cars had an End User Certificate from the NSA office in the name of Coscharis.

The waiver obtained by Coscharis was for one year; as such the time of importation this year was covered.

Customs admit its laws requires that it enforces duty on any item for which waiver was obtained, which was not used for the purpose stated-in this case, for Sports festival.

13.53

Car dealers as well as end users of armoured cars are mandated to seek authorization from the office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, before ordering or importing such vehicles into Nigeria.

Last week, reliable sources at the office of the NSA confirmed that no authorization certificate was ever issued to either Minister Oduah or the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, to procure the controversial vehicles.

13.50

Nigerian Customs confirmed that the two cars were imported and cleared at Tin Can 2.

The Customs said the import duty on the two cars which should have been N10 million plus were not paid because there was a waiver note issued by the finance ministry.

Customs also confirmed there was an End User certificate issued by the office of the National Security Adviser, NSA.

13.43

The hearing, proposed to start at noon, started 25 minutes late. The minister is absent at the hearing. The committee said it will take a position on that later.

Nigeria not broke, but has cash flow problems — FG

THE Federal Government said yesterday that Nigeria was not broke but admitted that the country was having cash flow problems.
Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Jonah Ogunniyi Otunla and the Director-General of Budget Office, Mr. Bright Okogwu, stated this while answering questions from members of the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on Appropriation and Finance.

Both explained that unlike certain countries with similar experience which had started borrowing monies to pay salaries of their workers, Nigeria was not yet doing that.

Mr. Okogwu said the country was still financially buoyant and had been meeting all its obligations, adding that the economy of the country was normal except what he described as “inadequate funds in circulation.”

No cause for alarm
He stressed that there was no cause for alarm, as according to him, the government was on top of the situation.

The government representatives who were at the meeting held to consider the 2012-2014 Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, earlier forwarded to the National Assembly by President Jonathan preparatory to the 2014 budget presentation in November, insisted that Nigeria was financially firmed.

Jonathan and Okonjo-Iweala

“Nigeria is not broke but it is currently having cash flow problems”, Otunla responded to question put to him by Senator Ahmed Makarfi.

Cash flow problems
On his part, Okogwu said though, the nation currently experiences cash flow problems from time to time; it does not suggest that it is broke.

Nigeria not broke
“Nigeria is not broke. We may have cash flow problem. But countries like Greek and Spain are broke. They are now approaching their international neighbours for bail out but Nigeria has not done that and we are nowhere near that situation at all”, he assured.

Mrs Maria Alade,  Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, who represented CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, at the event was, however, evasive in her reaction to a similar question.

She said:“As Bankers of the Federal Government, it is not our duty to tell the nation whether she is broke or not but we can tell her the amount she has in accounts at anytime but since the AGF and the DG, Budget have clearly declared that Nigeria is not broke, we in CBN also believe so,” she said.

APC, nPDP leaders celebrate Sokoto varsity

The Sokoto State University was commissioned yesterday in an atmosphere that was coloured with thick political undertones. The event was witnessed by leaders of the All Progressive Congress, APC and the new Peoples Democratic Party, nPDP who had former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and four of the G7 governors present besides the factional PDP national chairman, Alhaji Kawu Baraje.

FOR SOKOTO UNIVERSITY—From left: Governors Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto); Sule Lamido (Jigawa ); Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); former Governor of Lagos State, Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu; Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State and the Speaker House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal after the official opening of the newly constructed Sokoto State University, Sokoto, yesterday.

Also present at the commissioning of the university and other projects embarked upon by the Governor Aliyu Wamakko administration was the representative of President Ahamadou Yousouf of Niger Republic who was represented by the country’s Minister of Education, Mamadou Diallo and the governor of Tawa State in Niger Republic, Alhaji Salihu Barmo.

Prominent officials of the APC present at the commissioning performed by former head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar were General Muhammadu Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande among others.

Leaders of the nPDP present included the factional national chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, Atiku Abubakar, governors of of Adamawa, Kano, Rivers and Jigawa states namely, Murtala Nyako, Musa Kwankwaso, Rotimi Amaechi, Sule Lamido respectively. Also present was the national secretary of the nPDP, Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

Yesterday was the first time that President Shagari met with Buhari in a public ceremony in Sokoto.
For the first time in Sokoto, former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari met former President Shehu Shagari at the venue of the inauguration.

The effort of the Wamakko administration was praised by most of the dignitaries at yesterday’s inauguration. While General Abdulsalami praised the efforts of the administration, he called for harmony in the country saying that “Peaceful coexistence is an important ingredient and basis for development.”

Governor Amaechi on his part stressed the importance of education just as Sultan Sa`ad Abubakar pledged that the stakeholders would ensure that the university does not close down for one hour because of a strike action.

Atiku on his part stressed that no community or nation can develop without education.

Further commendation for the project came from Speaker Aminu Tambuwal who led the Sokoto State delegation to the National Assembly to the inauguration of the new university.

In his address at the ceremony, Governor Wamakko blasted critics of his development projects saying that the commissioning had shamed those that had in the past taken turns to hit at his administration’s developmental projects.

“Today by the grace of God, we are here to celebrate what some people were pessimistic about.”