BEVERLY HILLS, CA, October 24, (THEWILL) – More revelations are coming out as calls for the sack of Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah, continues unabated. The latest is from the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) which declared on Thursday that the both the Minister and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) were in breach of the Public Procurement Act in the purchase of two armoured BMW cars for the Minister.
Meanwhile, it has also been revealed that apart from the two armoured cars, the NCAA purchased 52 other “operational vehicles” exceeding the N240 million approved in the 2013 budget.
The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation led by Hon. Nkiruika Onyejocha investigating the controversial deal was Thursday told that the NCAA spent N623million on 54 cars, instead of N240million on 25 cars (excluding the BMW armoured cars) as appropriated in the 2013 budget.
Representative of the DG of BPP, Mr. Ayo Adedigbe, who made the disclosure in his presentation before the committee on Thursday, said contrary to section 15 and other relevant sections of the Act establishing the BPP, the Due Process office and the civil society were not involved in the procurement process of the cars.
“No request letter was sent to BPP for the purchase of the vehicles,” Adedigbe told the committee.
Adedigbe, who is a Deputy Director at BPP told the committee that a contract involving such huge sums of money can only be approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) as the Minister has no powers to approve any contract beyond N100 million.
He cited a circular signed by the former Head of Service, Ahmed Yayale, drawing the attention of public servants to section 19 (2) of the Public Procurement Act to buttress his point.
According to him, “A circular issued on the 11th of March, 2009 and signed by the then Head of Service, Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, directs that such a contract should have been approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), under section 19(2) of the Public Procurement Act.”
In his presentation, former acting Director General of NCAA, Mr. Joyce Nkemakolam, who was the accounting officer from April 14 to August 14, 2013 when the contract for the purchase of the vehicles was consummated between First Bank of Nigeria, Coscharis Motors and NCAA, disclosed that the agreement was signed for the purchase of the two BMW cars at the rate of N127million each and 52 other “operational vehicles” were also procured at a total cost of N623million.
He said the deal between Coscharis and FBN, was that the BMW armoured cars bought at N255m at the rate of N127.575 each, would be paid in installments, adding that NCAA would pay N23.249.181 million monthly to Coscharis for the two cars through FBN.
Giving additional information, Nkemakolam said the NCAA, besides the two vehicles for the Minister, also on “13th August, 2013, contacted Metropolitan Motors and other car companies to supply 17 vehicles for N78m at the rate of N4.5m each. Toyota Hilux cars for N81million at the rate of N5.428m each; 14 Toyota Prado Jeeps at the rate of N14million each and N12m and a Toyota Land Cruiser GX, for N15m, rising to a total of N387.938million. ”
Earlier, the lawmakers declined accepting any presentation from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, Mr. George Ossy, who represented the Minister and insisted that the Minister must appear in person next Tuesday.
The Permanent Secretary had explained that the Minister was away to Israel on official assignment and would not return until Monday.
While declaring open the investigation, Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, warned that the House would not tolerate a violation of the Constitution, the Appropriation Act, 2013(Budget 2013) and relevant laws in respect of the purchase of the said cars.
The Speaker, who was represented at the investigative hearing by the Deputy Leader of the House, Hon. Leo Okuweh Ogor(PDP-Delta), described the transaction as unfortunate.
By Saint Mugaga, Abuja
