Thursday, 14 November 2013
SENATE HAVE SUSPENDED STELLA ODUAH N225M CARS' SCANDAL PROBE INDEFINITELY.
The
Senate, on Thursday, suspended indefinitely its decision to question the
Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, at its general session, after repeatedly
deferring the minister’s appearance.
Ms.
Oduah will now appear before the Senate Committee on Aviation on an unnamed
date, a new resolution approved by the lawmakers on Thursday said. The hearing
is expected to be reported back to the senate plenary.
“The
Senate accordingly resolves to rescind its earlier resolution that the minister
of aviation and chief executives of the aviation parastatals to brief the
senate plenary,” the motion read.
It
also said the minister will “brief the Senate Committee on Aviation on the
state of aviation sector and highlights number of aviation incidents.”
Senate
President David Mark did not give reasons for the decision.
The
Senate deputy minority whip, Solomon Ganiyu, said the decision was reached at a
closed-door session.
“Indeed,
at the executive session last week, senators were unanimous that the motion
should be rescinded. Instead, the minister should rather appear before the
Senate Committee on Aviation,” Mr Solomon (Lagos/APC) said. He seconded a
motion to repeal the first order.
Ms.
Oduah is currently facing multiple investigations for allegedly ordering the
Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to purchase two armoured cars for her
at the cost of N255 million. The contract was not budgeted for and did not
follow due process.
The
minister has denied doing any wrong, and insists she followed the relevant
laws. An investigation by the House of Representatives proved those claims
false. The House investigation, which took more than a week, will be discussed
by lawmakers next week.
Another
committee named by President Goodluck Jonathan on the matter has failed to
submit its report after the assigned two weeks.
The
Senate probe was to focus on the problems of the aviation sector generally,
particularly air crashes and issues of regulation by the ministry of aviation.
The
minister has been accused of denying additional landing rights to some
international airlines to commence cargo and passenger flights to Kano and
Abuja apart from Lagos where they now operate.
The
airlines are: Emirates (Dubai, Kano, Abuja); Turkish (Instanbul, Kano, Abuja);
Etihad (Dubai, Kano, Abuja); Qatar (Doha, Kano, Abuja) and Asky Airlines (Lome,
Niger, Kano).
Emirates
and Turkish airlines have, however, received conditional approvals to fly the
Kano-Abuja routes. The aviation ministry attached strict conditions to the
effect that they must pay “Royalty Per Passenger”.
The
minister was however also expected to address questions on the armoured cars
scandal.
After
repeated rescheduling, her appearance last Thursday was moved after Mr Mark
said he wanted to personally preside over the hearing. The senate president was
to lead the Nigerian delegation to United Arab Emirate to support the Golden
Eaglets who played Mexico in the finals of the U-17 FIFA championship. He did
not go after all.
“I
think we should oblige the senate president that opportunity to preside over
the session because he was passionate about it and he would have been around
today but for the last minute national assignment given to him,” deputy senate
president, Ike Ekweremadu, said that day.
But on
a rescheduled date Thursday, the Senate tabled a motion to withdraw its
previous decision on the matter. It mandated the minister to brief the aviation
committee.
Speaking
to journalists after the plenary, chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation,
Hope Uzodinma (Imo/PDP), denied concerns that the Senate may have acted under
“pressure” from the Presidency to give the embattled minister a soft landing.
“I
don’t know where you heard what you heard but what I had just said is the
decision is in order,” he said. “I think it (rescinded summons) is proper and
it is in order and in accordance with the Senate rules.”
Mr
Uzodinma, however, could not provide a definite date Mrs Oduah is to appear
before the Senate aviation committee.
“The
time table will be worked out as soon we meet at the committee level,” he said.
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