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Finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on Monday again forcefully denied granting import duty waivers to cover the two armoured cars purchased by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, for the aviation minister, Stella Oduah, distancing herself from blame in a scandal that has smeared many government officials.

Speaking before the House of Representatives aviation committee investigating the car purchase, Mrs Okonjo-Iweala repeated her earlier claim — made in a statement last week — that the approval for a waiver granted by her office was for 300 cars required by the Lagos state government for the National Sports Festival, and that it did not cover “any” armoured cars.

The minister was invited to testify on the issue of waiver granted Coscharis Motors to supply the NCAA the two armoured cars.

The purchase of the cars for Mrs Oduah has generated outrage for weeks because its cost was inflated, and it was neither listed in the government-approved budget nor did it comply with the Nigeria’s public procurement law.

The Nigeria Customs service had told the committee last week that the two cars were imported in the name of the Lagos state government for the sports festival, and under an import waiver approved by the Ministry of Finance.

“What I know of the matter is that on June 23, 2012, the Lagos State government applied to the president for a waiver as it is normally done for inspection charges and duty exemptions on assorted brand of vehicles in favour of Coscharis Motors for the conduct of the 18th National Sports Festival or the Eko Games,” Mrs Okonjo-Iweala said.

“Having met all due requirements, the Lagos State was granted this waiver for the import of 300 units of cars of various types, and this was granted. What I know is that on this list, there was no mention of bullet-proof cars, and that is all I want to say. So, no waiver was granted for bullet-proof cars.”

The minister said it was usual for state governments to apply for waivers for purchase of cars. “And once they have shown how many units, the cost of these units, how they are going to be used, and so on and so forth, we go through, and the application is made, and the waiver granted, if all the parts are clear. It is under that particular law,” she said.

On face value, her remarks are not different from Coscharis’ claim that it sought for, and received waiver from the finance minister. The car firm said it was a normal practice to assist governments through sponsorships during events and then ask them in return to assist in securing waivers to import new cars.

In the case of Lagos, the company said it made available several vehicles for the state government to use during the sports event, after which they were returned while the government also helped secure waivers for new imports to be made to replace the cars, while the donated cars were sold off.

In real sense, what the testimonies from the firm and the ministry highlight is that Coscharis passed the two armoured cars to the ministry, through the Lagos state government, as ordinary vehicles, without making it clear they were bullet-proof cars meant for Minister Oduah.

On Monday, when asked by Jerry Manwe, a member of the House committee on how the lost waiver, totalling N10.1 million, according to Customs, could be recovered, Mrs Okonjo-Iweala said: “I do not really feel it is in my place to give advice on this particular matter. I want to limit myself to the invitation, which was sent to me to come and speak about the waiver. Honourable chair, I think you have to refer to other authorities on that.”

The committee is expected to complete its work this week.
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 The house of Representatives committee on Aviation, will today conclude hearing on the buying of two armoured cars for the aviation minister, Stella Oduah, for N255 million. The hearing was adjourned from yesteday, Wednesday, to permit the aviation minister to attend. The minister was expected at the Wednesday hearing but was missing since she was away in Israel for a bilateral air support deal signing. The spotlight of today's hearing will be the minister's appearance. Her absence at the hearing recently angered many lawmakers who said it would be her last chance to be heard.

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A Senate committee holding hearings into the aviation sector in Nigeria today shockingly heard   how the Aviation Minister Stella Oduah spent $1.6 million on the purchase of two armored cars today, also the committee received further confirmation that the minister received several other cars from another agency under her control.

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George Uresi, the chief executive officer of the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), admitted before the Senate’s aviation committee, led by Hope Uzodinma, that FAAN bought four bullet proof cars for Ms. Oduah at N70 million each. SaharaReporters, which broke the news of how the minister forced the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to buy her two bullet-proof BMWs at the inflated cost of $800,000 each, had also subsequently reported that other agencies under Ms. Oduah had also bought her extremely expensive, overpriced cars.

Mr. Uresi’s testimony today confirmed our earlier reports that the minister hauled in at least six armored cars from a variety of aviation agencies.

Our correspondent reported that Mr. Uresi, the CEO of FAAN, sweated profusely as he told Senator Uzodinma’s committee that FAAN bought four bullet-proof cars for Ms. Oduah. “He was sweating bullets even though the committee room was heavily air-conditioned,” said our citizen reporter.

The FAAN boss’s testimony revealed that the transaction resembled how the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) bought two BMW armored cars for the minister at inflated price.

According to Mr. Uresi, FAAN bought two armored Lexus limousine cars and two Prado armored sports utility vehicles (SUVs) for Ms. Oduah.

Contacted later this evening, a member of the Senate’s aviation committee told SaharaReporters that he had heard rumors that the leadership of the committee was looking for ways to cover up Ms. Oduah’s car-buying scandal. “Some of us will not allow anybody to cover up anything,” said the senator.

Senator Uzodinma gave Mr. Uresi till Monday to provide the paperwork for the purchase of the four cars his agency procured for the minister’s use.

Meanwhile, a source who works at FAAN told SaharaReporters that the deal for the purchase of the cars was done through a company linked to Ms. Oduah. “The finance department of FAAN was not in the know of the purchase as the deal was done at the minister’s office with Uresi signing off on the deal.”

Although Mr. Uresi admitted to the purchase, he refused to provide the Senate committee members with details of how the deal was finalized with a bank. He also refused to disclose if Coscharis Motors Limited was involved in the latest scandal. Coscharis Motors, which is owned by Cosmas Maduka, was involved in the shady deal for the supply of the two BMWs paid for by the NCAA for the personal use of the minister. SaharaReporters reported earlier that Ms. Oduah received more than N100 million as kickback after she arm-twisted NCAA officials to sign papers certifying delivery of the two cars. No officials of the agency ever saw the vehicles before signing the delivery documents. 

SaharaReporters had also reported that another agency, National Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), also bought four Toyota Tundras for the minister. After our revelation, NAMA authorities went on a desperate search for companies to claim ownership of four limousines parked at the aviation agency’s TRACON site in Abuja. Today, the Senate asked NAMA officials to bring over the supposed owners of the vehicles along with proof of their ownership.

In the end, NAMA claimed that the vehicles belong to a local airline, Overland Airways. But in a clear indication of fishiness, some other company had called SaharaReporters to claim ownership of the limousines. 

Ms. Oduah is expected to appear before the House of Representative tomorrow (Wednesday) to answer questions on the scandal of the $1.6 million she squandered on the purchase of two armored BMW cars.

In the wake of our revelations of the minister’s car-buying spree, she traveled to Israel as part of President Goodluck Jonathan’s official delegation to religious sites in that country.  Mrs. Oduah returned to Nigeria on Monday night  a few minutes after she attended a ceremony where a Bilateral Services Agreement was signed with Israel.
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