Stella Oduah in a Web of Lies: Her Claims doesn't Impress the House of Reps Aviation Committee

The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation has concluded that the Aviation Minister, Mrs. Stella Oduah is a serial liar.

The committee dismissed every single claim the Minister made during her testimony to the committee earlier in the week concerning the purchase of two bulletproof cars for her by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). This was contained in a report obtained by SaharaReporters.

"There was no provision for armoured vehicle in Nigerian law for a minister in any event, any procurement for an armoured vehicle must be provided for in the appropriation act and backed by relevant approval," the report said.

The committee also noted that the Minister and the Director-General of the NCAA claimed that both vehicles were purchased under a lease agreement with First Bank Plc.

"The assertion is not true because First Bank Plc clearly stated that they were procured under auto loan, this is clearly shown by the loan agreement between NCAA and First Bank."

Furthermore, it said, "The document submitted shows that BMW chassis No. DW68044 and DW68032 while on ground committee inspect BMW vehicle chassis No. DW68044 and W68011, the identity of W68011 is still unknown to the committee because the vehicle chassis number did not tally with the documents submitted."

Turning to other testimonies, the committee recalled that the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, clearly stated in her presentation that her Ministry did not approve any waiver for the two vehicles.

"Coscharis Motors Limited claimed that the Federal Ministry of Finance granted it import duty VAT, ETLS, CISS, and port charges waiver to import two number bullet proof BMW armoured cars, this claim is false. The Hon. Minister of Finance in the testimony before the committee stated that the Federal Ministry of Finance only granted waivers to Lagos State Government through Coscharis Motors Limited in 2012 for the importation of 300 units vehicles for use during the 2012 Eko Games and that the waiver did not include the importation of two BMW armoured cars."

Similarly, both Mrs. Oduah and the DG of NCAA claimed in their presentation that the procurement of the operations vehicles complied with the relevant laws of public procurement, fiscal responsibility and due process. This claim was countered by the Bureau of Public Procurement assertion that it was not part of the transaction between NCAA, First Bank and Coscharis Motors Limited to procure the operational vehicles. Furthermore, no evidence at complying with due process was shown however.

The committee further recalled that Mrs. Oduah also testified that the lease financing arrangement would see NCAA pay N100m by the end of 2013 fiscal year while the balance of N16m will be paid in the following year. The amount, according to the Minister, fell below what is required for Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval.

"However, documents from NCAA indicate that on April 25th 2013, the Hon. Minister approved the sum of N564, 665,000,00m. There is no evidence to show that the Hon. Minister presented NCAA's request to Federal Executive Council for its approval."

The committe observed that neither the Minister of Aviation and NCAA submitted copies of necessary documents to validate the claim that the transactions followed due process whatsoever.

"The pre-shipping inspection end-user certificate issued by the office of National Security Adviser (NSA) to Coscharis Motors Limited is for three nos armoured BMW 760 Li High Security vehicles with chassis number DW68032, DW68044 and DW68047," the committee said.

"From the records Coscharis Motors delivered to the NCAA two nos armoured BMW cars with chassis number DW68032 and DW68044, Coscharis may have to explain the ownership and whereabouts of the third armoured car with chassis number DW68047, since neither of the three armoured cars had approval."

Full text of the findings in the 40-page report

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Findings of House Committee on Aviation

1. Pursuant to purchase order Ref: No NCAA/DG/PROC/0708/Coscharis dated 13th August 2013 NCAA procured the split of two MBW 760Li Bullet proof vehicles along with 52 other vehicles from Coscharis and Metropolitan Motors.

A total sum of N643.088.258m of N255, 150.00 was paid for the purchase of two MBW vehicles. N643, 088,250.00 was provided by Messrs first bank Nig. Plc under an auto loan agreement.

2. The 2013 Appropriation Act provides for the purchase of 25 vehicles at the cost of N240million namely Toyota Pickup Hilux 5nos, Toyota Corolla 10nos, Toyota Land cruiser 5nos, Toyota Hiace Bus 3nos, security inspection vehicles 2nos for safety / security purposes and inspection of perimeter fence.

3. That there was no appropriation for the purchase of the two BMW (armoured cars) in the 2013 Appropriation Act. The NCAA proposal for purchase of the two BMW armoured cars was rejected, what was provided for in the budget were two security vehicles for the inspection perimeter fence.

4. There was no appropriation for the purchase of the two armoured cars indeed NCAA proposal for the purchase of the two MBW armoured cars was rejected

5. There was no provision for armoured vehicle in Nigerian law for a minister in any event, any procurement for an armoured vehicle must be in provided for in the appropriation act and back by relevant approval

6. The Appropriation Act provides for two operational security vehicle for the inspection of parameter fences and not BMW bullet proof cars as purported by the Minister.

7. The Hon. Minister and the DG NCAA claimed that both vehicles were purchased under a lease agreement with First Bank plc, the assertion is not true because first bank plc clearly stated that they were procure under auto loan, this is clearly shown by the loan agreement between NCAA and first bank

8. The document submitted shows that BMW chassis No. W68044 and W68032 while on ground committee inspect BMW vehicle chassis No. W68044 and W68011, the identity of W68011 is still unknown to the committee because the vehicle chassis number did not tally with the documents submitted.

9. The Hon. Minister of Finance in her presentation clearly stated that her ministry did not approve any waiver for the two BMW armoured vehicles

10. The Nigerian Custom Service submitted documents that negate his position

CONSULTANT'S FINDINGS

1. On April 15th 2013 the NCAA applied to the Hon. Minister of Aviation via a memo NCAA/DG/D4/1/13 for approval to acquire a total of 55 operational vehicles at a total cost of N554, 655,000.00million, NCAA's application was approved by the Hon. Minister in a memo FMA/NCAA/T44555/5.6/T2/136 dated April 25th 2013, this approval is against the:

i. 25 operation vehicles approved in NCAA 2013 budget

ii. The approval value is against the limit of a ministerial tender board

iii. No evidence of due process was shown by NCAA /Ministry of Aviation

2. At the point of procurement NCAA preordered 54 operational vehicles valued at N643, 088250.00million as against 55 operational vehicles valued at N564, 565,000.00m approved by the Hon. Minister.

3. The Hon. Minister of Aviation also claimed that the lease financing arrangement will see NCAA pay N100m by the end of 2013 fiscal year while the balance of N16m will be paid in the following year, this amount according to the minister fell below what is required for Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval, however, documents from NCAA indicate that on April 25th 2013, the Hon. Minister approves the N564, 665,000,00m there is no evidence to show that the Hon. Minister presented NCAA's request to Federal Executive Council for his approval.

4. Coscharis Motors Limited claimed that the Federal Ministry of Finance granted it import duty VAT, ETLS, CISS, and port charges waiver to import two number bullet proof BMW armoured cars, this claim is false. The Hon. Minister of finance in the testimony before the committee stated that the Federal Ministry of Finance only granted waivers to Lagos State Government through Coscharis Motors Limited in 2012 for the importation of 300 units vehicles for use during the 2012 Eko Games and that the waiver did not include the importation of two BMW armoured cars.

5. Both the Hon. Minister and the DG of NCAA claimed in their presentation that the procurement of the operations vehicles complied with the relevant laws of public procurement fiscal responsibility and due process. This claim was countered by the Bureau of Public Procurement assertion that it was not part of the transaction between NCAA, First Bank and Coscharis Motors Limited to procure the operational vehicles. Furthermore, no evidence at complying with due process was shown however.

6. Presentations for both the Hon. Minister of Aviation and NCAA did not include copies of the following documents to validate the claim that the transactions follow due process:

a. Copies of advertisement of solicitations for bids published in at least two national newspapers and the website of NCAA as well as any procurement journal

b. Copies of bids submission registers and duplicate copies of the receipt issued to bidders on submission of bids

c. Minutes of public bidding for technical and financial proposal including list of (CSOs) and professional observers

d. Copies of bids evaluation by the sub technical committees of the tenders board

e. Copies of minutes of meeting of the tenders board approving the winning bidder

f. Copies of bids rejection on notice if any

g. Copies of acceptance of bids issued by NCAA to the successful bidder.

h. Letter of notification of award of contract

i. Evidence of budgetary allocation for the procurement as approved by the National Assembly

7. The pre-shipping inspection end-user certificate issued by the office of National Security Adviser (NSA) to Coscharis Motors Limited is for three no. armoured BMW 760 Li Security with chassis number DW68032, DW68044 and DW68047.

From the records Coscharis Motors delivered to the NCAA two nos armoured BMW cars with chassis number DW68032 and DW68044, Coscharis may have to explain the ownership and whereabouts of the third armoured car with chassis number DW68047, since neither of the three armoured cars had approval.