Oduah Blasts Reps for Recommending Her Dismissal

The Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, condemned the approval of sacking recommendation by the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation.

The committee had recommended sacking the embattled Minister over her decision to order the purchase of two armoured cars for N255m. The committee noted that such a sum was far above what the Minister could approve without the consent of the National Assembly.

The House of Representative approved the recommendation by its aviation committee on December 19, 2013, Thursday.

Mrs. Oduah expressed her reactions in a statement by her Special Assistant, Media, Mr. Joe Obi. The Minister wondered why the House endorsed wholesale, the recommendations of its committee that investigated the bulletproof cars purchased by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

“We are shocked and disappointed that in spite of the deluge of representations and evidences provided by the Aviation Minister and all invited stakeholders on the matter, the House would reach conclusions that have only confirmed that there was a hidden agenda in the entire exercise from the beginning.

“We recall vividly the underhand tactics of the House when, 24 long hours before the report of the investigation was due to be laid before the plenary, ‘certified true copies’ were handed over to online and traditional media.

“The motive of those who handed the document to unauthorised persons has fully manifested in the adoption of the recommendations that have no reflection to the public hearing conducted in the full glare of Nigerians and the media,” the statement said.

Punch