Oduah’s Bullet Proof Cars:Court Fixes Date For Hearing On Suit Against EFCC

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has fixed June 10, 2014 for hearing the suit filed by Say No Campaign-Nigeria praying the court for an order of mandamus compelling the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest and prosecute Ms. Stella Oduah, Former Minister of Aviation for her role and participation in the purchase of bullet proof vehicles for the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Recall that the Former Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah before her removal from office approved the purchase of 55 operational vehicles valued at N643,088,250 (Six Hundred and Forty Three Million, Eighty Eight Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty Naira Only) via a memo FMA/NCAA/T44555/5.6/T2/136 dated April 25th 2013. Her approval was in clear breach of the Appropriation Act of 2013 which approved the purchase of only 25 operational vehicles for the NCAA. The former minister’s approval also contravened Section 16 (2) of the Public Procurement Act 2007 which stipulates that the approval of the Federal Executive Council is required for such procurement.
Two MBW 760Li Bullet proof vehicles where illegally procured under the former minister’s watch and approval. The vehicles were procured without advertising for bids, without minutes of public bidding for technical and financial proposals, without minutes of meeting of the tenders board approving the successful bidder, without a letter of notification of award of contract all in breach of Section 16 (2) of the Public Procurement Act 2007.
The investigation report of the House Committee on Aviation submitted to the House of Representatives on December 19, 2013 indicted the both the former Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah and the former Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. The House passed a resolution to the effect that the former Minister be removed from office and prosecuted by the EFCC.
Unarguably,the House report established a prima facie case against the former Minister of Aviation and the former DG of the NCAA. Disturbed by the failure or negligence of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to commence investigation and prosecution of the former Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, the Say No Campaign through a letter dated January 23, 2014 issued a 14 days ultimatum to EFCC to investigate and prosecute Ms Stella Oduah. The EFCC replied the Say No Campaign on January 29, 2014 assuring us that the ultimatum will receive adequate attention. Five months after the letter, the EFCC has failed to carry out its statutory function in prosecuting Ms Stella Oduah and Fola Akinkuotu pursuant to Sections 6 and 7 of the EFCC Act 2014 (As Amended).
The Say No campaign said it has resolved “vigorously pursue this matter to a logical conclusion. Nigeria will continue to experience underdevelopment and dwindling economic fortunes if government at all levels does not express overboard willingness and commitment to fight corruption and impunity. Preventing corrupt public officials from prosecution and investigation fuels the embers of impunity. We urge Nigerians to rise up and SAY NO to corruption and impunity because corruption is indeed a reality not a perception in Nigeria”,the group said.