At last, President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday bowed to public opinion calling for probe of the two BMW Li Series armoured cars purchased by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) allegedly for the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, at a cost of N250 million.
Apparently embarrassed by the controversy that the trending issue has generated, President Jonathan set up a three-man committee headed by the immediate past Head of Service of the Federation (HoS), Sali Bello Isa to investigate the matter.
The committee christened Administrative Panel of Inquiry, according to the Presidential Adviser on Media and publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, also has as members, the National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki and Air Vice Marshal Dick Iruenebere.
Abati, said the President constituted the panel considering the “weight of the allegation”, saying the panel has two weeks to submit its report.
President Jonathan, the Media Adviser assured is determined to ensure that the truth regarding the purchase is unveiled, saying “the President assure the general public that nobody no matter how highly placed will be shielded from this enquiry”.
Abati spoke further, “President Goodluck Jonathan has taken the initial step of asking the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah for explanations and that is in public domain and so it will not be right to say that the President is not well seized of the matter.
“But President Jonathan has also today taken a step further and you will probably be the first set of Nigerians to hear this, by setting up a three-man administrative panel of inquiry. This panel has the assignment to investigate whether the procurement process with regards to this armoured vehicles follow due process. This three-man panel is also to find out the purpose to which the vehicles were procured and then to inquire into any other instrumental matter.
“This three-man panel is to be chaired by the immediate former Head of Service of the Federation, Alhaji Isa Sali Bello, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dakusi (rtd) is a member, AVM Dick Iruenebere (rtd). The secretariat of the panel which is expected to submit its reports within two weeks will be provided by the office the NSA.
Let me assure you that President Jonathan will like to assure the general public that nobody no matter how highly placed will be shielded or exempted from this inquiry that he has directed and that appropriate action will be taken against any person or persons who maybe found guilty of misconduct or misappropriation of public funds either in this respect or in any other respect.
“Indeed Mr. President considers this very weighty matter and that is not true as some people have been alleging that no action has been taken.
Asked whether the Minister of aviation will step aside pending the conclusion of investigation, Abati said, “well, I have just announced to you what I was asked to announce that a panel of inquiry has been set up, this panel will address all the relevant questions and advice Mr. President accordingly within two weeks”.
The Director General of the NCAA had admitted that the cars were purchased but hastened to add that they were meant to convey the Minister and international dignitaries from ICAO and other aviation bodies whenever they come for meeting in Nigeria.
On Tuesday, the House of Representatives at plenary also directed its committee on aviation to probe the purchase of the armoured MBW cars. The prices of the cars seem to have been grossly inflated and may have not followed due procurement process.
