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₦255m car scandal: Reps’ panel indicts Oduah, NCAA

Posted by Unknown Rabu, 06 November 2013 0 komentar
There were indications on Wednesday that the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation had established some infractions against the Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
The committee is investigating the controversial purchase of two bulletproof BMW cars by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority allegedly for Oduah at a whopping N255m. However, she testified before the committee, which is chaired by Mrs. Nkiruka Onyejeocha, and denied that the cars were bought for her use.
The panel  ended  its public hearing on the transaction on Monday.

Oduah was expected to appear before   the Senate    on Wednesday but could  not because of the Federal Executive Council meeting.  Findings by our source indicated that  the Onyejeocha –led committee  might  lay its  report before the House on Thursday (today). It was gathered that after deliberating on records before them, members of the panel had established some infractions against the minister and the NCAA. Sources close to the committee confided in our source that “at least four issues are no longer disputable.”
According to findings, one of the issues is “extra-budgetary spending”, while the second is “approval beyond ministerial limit.”
It was learnt that the committee also established a case of “violation of public procurement procedures.” Similarly, the panel confirmed that “indeed, N255m was spent to buy two bulletproof BMW cars and the use of waivers meant for EKO Games to import the cars.”
One of the sources told one of our correspondents  that the committee tried to remain focused on its core mandate and not to veer off into other allegations that might have been levelled against the Ministry of Aviation.
The source  said, 
 “Some infractions have been established, no doubt. “The recommendations of the committee will follow glaring issues that came up during the public hearing.  “For example, it has been established that while the National Assembly approved N240m for the NCAA to buy 25 vehicles this year, it spent over N643m to procure 54 vehicles.
“That is a case of extra-budgetary spending. “We have heard the minister admitting that she acted on a proposal for lease financing of N564m. “Whether she was not properly guided as she told the committee or not, what is clear is that the figure is above the N100m that a ministerial board can approve.
“What role did the Bureau of Public Procurement play in this transaction? No role at all; another infraction. “The BPP came here to testify and they told us that there was no communication between them and the NCAA over the transaction.”
A  member of the committee, Mr. Zakari Mohammed, confirmed that  the report could be laid on Thursday(today).

The report should be laid in plenary tomorrow (today). We are presenting it,” he stated.
Oduah however did not appear before the Senate on Wednesday as she sought a last-minute permission to attend the weekly FEC  meeting. Oduah had been summoned by the Senate to explain her roles in the October 3 plane crash in Lagos and her role in the purchase of the controversial bulletproof cars.
A source told one of our correspondents in Abuja  that the minister   sent “a last-minute letter to the Senate leadership on Tuesday evening, requesting another date because she needed  tto attend the FEC meeting”
Our correspondent learnt that Oduah’s request was granted but was directed to  appear  on Thursday(today).
Immediately after the FEC meeting, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,  Anyim  Pius Anyim,   whisked the embattled minister  off from the Presidential Villa.  Sensing that State House correspondents might be waiting to engage her on the car scandal, he quickly engaged her in a discussion as they  walked   to where  the SGF parked his  Sport Utility Vehicle .
From, there    both of them were driven away through the Service Chiefs Gate. Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has interrogated five  top officials of the NCAA  over the  N255m car scandal. A top official of the commission, who made this known, said the NCAA chiefs   arrived at the commission’s office in Abuja at 2pm.
It was learnt that they were asked to write statements on their involvement in the scandal and thereafter asked  a few questions. The source, who did not want his name in print,  said that the NCAA chiefs were allowed to go  at about 4pm. He  said the commission would also  look into some transactions by    the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria. The source said,
“The commission interrogated a team from Coscharis Motors on Tuesday. We have quizzed five top officials of the NCAA. “The commission is not stopping with the NCAA, our investigators will also interrogate some officials of FAAN.”
 When contacted,  the Head of Media of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed that the EFCC would also interrogate  officials of some of the agencies in the aviation sector.


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Oduah: Jonathan, NSA in closed-door meeting

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The National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), on Wednesday  met behind closed-doors with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Dasuki is a member of the three-man administrative panel set up by Jonathan to probe the Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, over the N255m bulletproof cars purchased for her by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.


The panel, which is led by a former Head of Service of the Federation, Alhaji Isa Bello, also has Air Vice Marshal Dick Iruenebere (retd.) as members.
Dasuki came out of the President’s office at about 5.40pm and was driven out of the Villa.
It was not clear whether issues bordering on the probe formed part of the agenda of his meeting with the President.
His office is said to be saddled with the responsibility of approving amoured vehicles before they can be imported into the country.
The NSA refused to speak to journalists who approached him for comment on the works of the committee.
Jonathan had set up the committee at the peak of public outcry that trailed the purchase of the bulletproof cars.
In announcing the establishment of the committee, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, had said members were expected to, among other things, ascertain whether the procurement of the vehicles followed due process, ascertain the purpose of procurement and inquire into any other incidental matter. The President also met with some governors in the Jonah Jang-led faction of the Nigeria Governors Forum on Wednesday.
Vice President Namadi Sambo and the Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, also attended the meeting.
The governors in attendance were Vice Chairman of Jang’s faction, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo; Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State; Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State; and Governor Seriake Dickson of  Bayelsa State.
Dickson, who left the Presidential Villa earlier than others did not speak to journalists. Uduaghan and Mimiko, who arrived at the same time, also left together at about 7.25pm. Mimiko told journalists that the meeting was an informal parley with the President on issues bordering each state.
“It’s an informal meeting. From time to time, issues come up that we have to discuss with him (the President). They are issues bordering on governance,” he said.
Akpabio who left last exited the President’s office at about 8.45pm.
He did not talk to journalists.

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"I Didn't Grant Waiver For Aviation Minister Stella Oduah's Armoured Cars" - Okonjo Iweala Screams Again

Posted by Unknown Selasa, 05 November 2013 0 komentar
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.
Source

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Falana provides EFCC 13 grounds to prosecute Oduah

Posted by Unknown Senin, 04 November 2013 0 komentar
Lagos lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has given the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission 13 grounds to prosecute the Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, and “her agents” for gross misconduct in the purchase of two armoured cars at N255m.
 Contnue
In a November 2, 2013, letter to the EFCC chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, Falana also gave the commission up till November 8 to make available to him the investigation report on the matter.
Relying on the Court of Appeal’s decision in the case of Dogogo v EFCC (2013), the lawyer threatened to sue the EFCC if it failed to carry out its “statutory duty”.

He accused the House of Representatives committee before whom Oduah appeared on October 31, of deliberately not asking her the relevant questions on the “criminal enterprise”.
But he said facts and circumstances of the “illegal transaction” had established, among others, that “there was no appropriation for the sum of N255m for the acquisition of armoured cars in the Appropriation Act, 2013.”

He also said the minister 
“exceeded her approval limit as only the Federal Executive Council can approve any transaction of N100m and above; and the transaction did not comply with any of the provisions of the Public Procurement Act.”
Other grounds canvassed by Falana include, “The prices of the two cars were inflated by the auto company in connivance with the aviation minister and the management of the NCAA.

“The loan of N643 million sourced from the First Bank Plc for the purchase of operational vehicles for the NCAA was not approved by the National Assembly. “The repayment of the loan in 36 months by the NCAA is tantamount to contract splitting in contravention of the Financial Guidelines of the Federal Government.
 “That the Aviation Minister admitted her involvement in the extra budgetary purchase of the cars when she gave illegal approval before directing the NCAA officials to “do the needful”!
“The Media Assistant to the Aviation Minister who claimed that the armoured cars were purchased for the “safety” of his boss has not denied the official statement.
 “The Ministry of Aviation conspired with the auto company to evade the payment of appropriate duties on the armoured cars to the coffers of the Federal Governmen as they obtained duty waiver by false pretences from the Federal Ministry of Finance.
 “The First Bank Plc  entered into an illegal loan agreement with the NCAA to finance the illegal transaction from the internally generated revenue of the NCAA. Under the law loans can only be approved by the legislative arm of government fo fund capital projects and not for the purchase of cars.

He therefore asked the anti-graft agency to hasten to try the minister and her agents 
“for gross economic and financial crimes as they wilfully violated the relevant provisions of the Constitution, the Public Procurement Act as well as the relevant Circulars and Financial Guidelines of the Federal Government.”
He threatened to apply for an order of mandamus to compel EFCC “to carry out your statutory duty” if it failed to acceded to his request.


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Photos: Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah Faces House Committee Hearing Over BMW Car Scandal

Posted by Unknown Kamis, 31 Oktober 2013 0 komentar
 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.
Continue to see more photos















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Bullet-proof cars not bought for me, Oduah tells Reps

Posted by Unknown 0 komentar
The Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, has denied reports that the two BMW armoured cars, bought by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority from Coscharis Nigeria Limited, were bought for her.
Appearing before the committee looking into the crisis in the aviation industry, especially the purchase of the armoured cars, Oduah said the controversial cars were meant for the safety of aviation visitors to the country.
 Continue

She claimed the NCAA bought the cars for the safety of foreign aviation visitors in line with Nigeria’s growing role in AICAO certification.
“It is totally untrue that NCAA bought cars for me.
“They were not registered in my name”, she said
Meanwhile after a long wait by the committee members and the press, the minister arrived at 11.42am, about one hour 42 minutes behind the scheduled 10am for the session to testify before the committee.
She came a few minutes after the committee members, led by the Chairman, Mrs. Nkiruka Onyejeocha, arrived the venue. The minister, who wore a stripped blue ankara dress with a matching blue head scarf, walked into the hall at 11.42am

Oduah also wore white beaded jewellery to complement her embroidered blouse.
She took a sit facing the panel members. But, shortly after, she rose, went halfway between her seat and the high table, where she exchanged pleasantries with the committee chairman.
Oduah walked out of the hall before returning again to resume her seat.



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Photos: Did Stella Oduah Pay Another ("Rent-A-Crowd") Mob To Demonstrate For Her ?

Posted by Unknown 0 komentar
 A tiny number of women today showed up at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, in support of embattled minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah. The women carried placards which read'a fight against Stella Oduah is a fight against women '.
See more pics after the break.





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Pres.GEJ places Oduah on ‘tactical suspension’

Posted by Unknown Selasa, 29 Oktober 2013 0 komentar
President Goodluck Jonathan may have placed the embattled Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, on  “tactical suspension,” findings by our source have revealed.

A reliable Presidency source   said Jonathan decided on the  “tactical suspension,” hours before the signing of the Bilateral Air Service  Agreement between Nigeria and Israel on Monday.
Continue

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Mr. George Ossi,  had on October 24 told the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation that Oduah   led a Nigerian delegation to Israel to sign the BASA.
The House committee  is probing the  purchase of  two  bulletproof cars  at  a whopping N255m  price by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority for the minister.

Our source explained that  it was the ‘tactical suspension’ that made Jonathan to direct the Minister of  State (1) for Foreign Affairs , Prof. Viola Onwuliri, to sign the  agreement instead of  Oduah.
When asked by one of our correspondents what ‘tactical suspension’ meant, he   said, “Oduah will not be allowed to attend public functions that will have the President in attendance until the three-member  committee  set up to investigate the matter turns in its report.”

The source, who said he did not know whether the “tactical suspension” order had  been formally communicated to the minister,  stated that  the step became necessary in order to dissuade Nigerians who hold the opinion that the President  was  shielding  Oduah.
In what seemed a corroboration of the “tactical suspension,” the  Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Mr. Ahmed Gulak, insisted that  Jonathan would not associate with or shield anybody found to be corrupt.

He insisted  during an interview with one of our correspondents on Tuesday, that the minister did not travel to Israel on the entourage of the President. 
“Did you see them (Jonathan and the minister) together in Israel? The President will not associate or shield anybody found to be corrupt. That is why he set up that panel because he will not want to act based on media reports,” Gulak  said.
Shortly before our  source  and Gulak  spoke, the Presidency  said  the BASA  was signed by Onwuliri  because it was a matter bordering on foreign affairs.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati,   in an exclusive telephone interview with one of our correspondents,  argued  that there was no politics involved in Onwuliri signing the agreement on behalf of the government.

 He said Nigerians should not reduce the matter to “the politics of political appointees who are all ultimately birds of passage.
” The President’s spokesman said Oduah did not only attend the signing ceremony but was also involved in framing the technical details of, and in preparing the agreement along with her Israeli counterpart.
 He said it was when that was done, that the Foreign Ministries moved in at the level of G2 diplomacy.
 Abati added, “The groundwork (for the agreement) was done by the Ministry of Aviation hence the involvement of the Aviation Minister, but this being a country-to-country agreement, more or less a treaty, it had to be signed by the Foreign Affairs Minister.

“It is also the convention in diplomacy to pair ministers. The Israelis brought their Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, so we did the same. There was no politics involved and there is no doubt that it is within the provenance of the Foreign Ministry to sign agreements on behalf of the country.
 “Let me add that BASA is about countries entering into an agreement.
“It is not about individuals. We must avoid the ridiculous temptation to reduce something that will promote good relations with a friendly nation to the politics of political appointees who are all ultimately birds of passage.”

When asked  if the  embattled minister  was under “tactical suspension,”   Abati replied, “She (Oduah was actually in attendance at the signing of the BASA . As I said, she was involved in framing the technical details of, and in preparing the agreement along with her Israeli counterpart. That done, the Foreign ministries moved in at the level of G2 diplomacy.”
Meanwhile,   the  ruling Peoples Democratic Party said on Tuesday that it  was  worried by the  bulletproof car scandal.

Like, Gulak, it assured Nigerians that whoever was  found culpable  would  face the law  because it (PDP) would never condone any form of  graft. The party, however, wondered why the opposition All Progressives Congress was going into a frenzy over the scandal when  its “governors and leaders   have been involved in bulletproof car deals more scandalous than those  in the Ministry of Aviation.”

 In a statement by its    National Publicity Secretary, Chief  Olisa Metuh,  the PDP said its  position  on corruption was unambiguous. A part of the statement reads,   “The position of our great party on corruption is unambiguous and our zero tolerance for corrupt practices abounds in practical examples. “To us as a party, the accusation of corruption in the Aviation ministry is a big worry. It is for this reason  that the President and the leader of our  party has set up a panel to investigate the matter while the National Assembly which we also lead  has stepped in.”

It   frowned on the ethnic dimension which comments and street actions on the issue had taken and advised   “ethnic lords, jingoists as  well as lynch mobs “ to realise that  biased sentiments could hardly achieve an objective basis for establishing the culpability of the public officers involved in the matter.”    The party then went for the jugular of the APC ,  saying  it  (APC) was not different from a white washed tomb.
 The PDP described the  APC as a stinking sepulchre and  the headquarters of corruption in Nigeria.
 It said, “This  is a party whose leaders relish in stinking miasma but artfully turning a blind eye to it.
 “They however go megaphonic when other political parties are involved.

“Hardly can you point at any of its leaders without a heavy baggage.  “In fact, the governors and leaders of the APC have been involved in bulletproof car deals more scandalous than those at the Aviation ministry but this is conspicuously missing on the sermon list of these  false evangelists of good governance.”   It wondered why  the trial of  the  Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji,   for acts of corruption,  had yet to  be  discussed by the APC leadership.

 The PDP further contended that the  stench of corruption oozing from   the concession  of the Lekki Toll Plaza  and its debilitating effects on the electoral fortune  of APC  was the reason the Lagos State Government allegedly retrieved and paid off  the firm that built the  road.

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Nigerians Pour to the street To Protest Against The Call For Sack Of Stella Oduah

Posted by Unknown Minggu, 27 Oktober 2013 0 komentar
Business activities were, Saturday, paralyzed at the Akanu-Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, although temporarily, as hundreds of Igbo youths, beneath the aegis of Igbo Progressive Union (IPU), embarked on a peaceful protest against the calls for the sack of Oduah on the controversial armoured cars.

The kinsmen of the embattled minister from Ogbaru local government part of Anambra State, led by High
Chief George Nwabueze, also exonerated her from any wrong doing in the purchase of the cars. Nwabueze said that the prospective of those calling for the top of Oduah was President Goodluck Jonathan whose second term ambition in 2015 they've vowed to avoid by all means.
Continue after the break.


The protesting young men and women, who carried placards with various inscriptions, accused an unnamed personality of being behind the calls for the removal of the minister, insisting that the intention was to avoid Oduah from going ahead with her transformation agenda in the aviation sector.

The group, who spoke through their leader, Emeka Agbo, a student of the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, said Igbo youths were ready to go the complete hog in ensuring that their daughter was protected, expressing dismay that some highly placed individuals were determined to rubbish the achievements of the minister.

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"I've Not set my eye on Stella Oduah Since 2011",says Former Husband

Posted by Unknown Sabtu, 26 Oktober 2013 0 komentar
 
Ex-Minister of State for Works, Chief Chris Ogiemwonyi, is the former husband to embattled Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah.  When they went their separate ways a couple of years ago, having Ogiemwonyi removed as part of her surname became an issue between them. To date, her names could still be gleaned in some publications as Stella Oduah-Ogiemwonyi.
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When our source got across to the former junior minister on the telephone on Wednesday in Benin, he said he had not seen his former wife since 2011. He also said he had nothing new to add to what is already in the public domain about the car scandal.
He however did not offer any opinion regarding the action of NCAA and his former wife’s likely role in the country’s show of profligacy, saying both had not seen since she became minister.
The former minister for state said Nigerians know of what has been happening and that he had nothing to say or add. He however empathised with her.
Said Ogiemwonyi, “What concerns me about her? We have been separated and since she became minister, we have not seen. You know the time when the issue of dropping my name came up. We have not seen since then. We all read comments in the papers, everybody is listening and even the National Assembly, on the blogs; they are all full. But all I can tell you is that I last saw Stella in May 2011; that was when I saw her last. Since she became minister, I haven’t seen her. All I can say is that I wish her well, but there is nothing more I can say.”
Asked whether he was not bothered about the controversy generated by the minister’s predicament, he said that was the least of his problems.
Both Ogiemwonyi and Oduah were said to and become friends when they were working for the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation. While the former husband was a young engineer, Oduah was with the account department of the oil corporation. Their friendship blossomed and they later became husband and wife.
A blue-blood, Stella Oduah is the daughter of Igwe D. O. Oduah, Akili Ozizo of Ogbaru in Anambra State. She was born on January 5, 1962. After her studies at St. Paul’s College, Lawrence Ville, Virginia in the United States in 1983, Oduah joined the Nigeria National Petroleum Company.
Speaking in an interview three years ago, Oduah explained why she joined the government-owned corporation.
She said, “I wanted to be in oil and gas, and I felt my first leg should be in a national company and NNPC happened to be the in-thing at that time. It was either NNPC or banking and I just didn’t go into banking. I wanted oil and gas and so I was lucky I passed the interview at NNPC and I went in.”
 In 1992, she floated Sea Petroleum and Gas with a reported N200,000 bank facility. Her reason: “I don’t think I left NNPC to set up SPG.
“I left NNPC because I wanted to do something more challenging. I left NNPC because I wasn’t getting enough job satisfaction. That’s why I left.”
A beautiful woman with a fearless gut that could make so many men question their masculinity,  Oduah’s SPG, with a dodgy track record, has become an octopus in the oil and gas.

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