Photos And Transcript From House Committee Hearing On Stella Oduah N255 Million Armoured Car Scandal

Embattled aviation minister, Mrs Stella Oduah presented herself today before the House of Representatives committee on Aviation, over the purchase of two BMW armoured cars for N255 million.

The hearing was adjourned from yesterday, Wednesday, to allow the aviation minister attend. The minister was expected at the Wednesday hearing but was absent because she was away in Israel for a bilateral air service agreement signing.

Here are some photos and the transcript of how it unfolded at the hearing room...after the cut...

Women Hit The Streets Of Abuja In Support Of Embattled Aviation Minister Stella Oduah (PHOTOS)

A group of women, quite small in their numbers stormed  the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja this morning, to show their unflinching support for the embattled minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah. The women were seen brandishing placards which read 'Leave Stella Oduah Alone', 'Fight Against Stella Oduah Is A Fight Against Women' amongst others.

More pics after the cut...

Forbes Releases 2013 Ranking Of The World's Most Powerful People, Aliko Dangote Makes The List While President Jonathan Did Not

Barack Obama Droped To No. 2 Spot, placing Russian president Vladamir Putin on the No. 1 spot. The only Nigerian on the list, Alhaji Aliko Dangote clinches the 64th spot while President Goodluck Jonathan is clearly absent from the list.

The Most Powerful People in the World list is an annual snapshot of the heads of state, financiers, philanthropists and entrepreneurs who truly rule the world.

See the full list after the cut...

''How NTA Cancelled My Live Show For Interviewing A Gay Man'' - Funmi Iyanda

Funmi Iyanda was Nigeria’s top TV host before she put a gay man on air and lost her live breakfast show, New Dawn. She has decided to share her story of how she was victimized for interviewing a gay Nigerian man, Bisi Alimi, on New Dawn, in 2004.
Bisi Alimi eventually left Nigeria after the TV show and was granted asylum in the UK.
Read Funmi's full story after the cut...

World Bank ranks Nigeria 122nd best place to start business

The World Bank has ranked Nigeria 147th among the best places for doing business. It also ranked the country as the 122nd for best countries to start a business.

Nigerians Top 'Forbes’ African Person of the Year List

Nigerians have dominated Forbes Africa Person of the Year shortlist, the US base business website has announced.

In its Forbes Africa page, Forbes  announced it had narrowed down its shortlist, dominated by Nigerians, for the 2013 Person of the Year Awards. The awards will take place in Nairobi, Kenya at the beginning of December this year.

Check out the list, comprising  three Nigerians, one South African and one Zimbabwean...after the cut...

16-Year-Old Nigerian Girl Among "The World's 50 Smartest Teenagers"

A 16-year-old Nigerian girl, whose name has been buzzing in the headlines lately as a promising talent, has reserved a place among "The World's 50 Smartest Teenagers" list.

"If you are passionate about what you do, and I am passionate about many things, especially math and science, it will work out well," Saheela Ibraheem, who lived in Edison, New Jersey, was quoted as saying in The Best Schools website, which announced her title.

The young girl, only 16, made it to headlines earlier this year when she was accepted into Harvard University, making her one of the youngest students ever to attend that school.

President Jonathan Seeks Israel’s Support To Fight Boko Haram

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday sought the support of the Israeli government in order to fight terrorism occasioned by the activities of the fundamental Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President made the appeal during a meeting with President Shimon Peres of Israel in Jerusalem during his ongoing Christian pilgrimage to the country.

President Jonathan  said, 

“Combating the menace of terrorism is a challenge that we must address in partnership with all peace loving countries and peoples of the world.

US Senator Ted Cruz Apologizes For Insulting Nigerians

United States Senator, Ted Cruz, has apologized over his disparaging comments on Monday, October 21 in which he referred to Nigerians as scammers.

While taking a political swipe at the computer problems of the Affordable Care Act in the U.S, Cruz said:

“You may have noticed that all the Nigerian email scammers have become a lot less active lately.

“They all have been hired to run the Obamacare website”.

A letter on Sunday from the senator to leaders of the Nigerian community in Houston, Texas, where the comments were made, said Cruz “regrets any misunderstanding.”

The letter was signed by one of the aides of the Senator, Mr. David Sawyer, the South-East Texas Regional Director in his office.

Read his letter of apology after the cut: 

President Jonathan bars Stella Oduah from 'Bilateral Air Services Agreement' signing ceremony

Embattled Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah, will not be taking part in the historic signing of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement, BASA, with Israel today, Vanguard investigation has confirmed.

Oduah, who had left Nigeria for Israel ahead of Jonathan, is facing a twin-prong probe from the Presidency and the House of Representatives over her role in the acquisition of two overpriced armoured car valued at N225 million.

Ex Reps Member Dino Melaye Released From Detention

The Police on Wednesday, released anti-corruption crusader, Dino Melaye, who was arrested after he led a protest against the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah over allegation that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority,NCAA, purchased two BMW bullet-proof cars worth N255 million for her.

Nigerian-Americans Demand Apology From US Senator Ted Cruz Over Distasteful Remarks About Nigerians

Members of the Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans (CANAN) have called on Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas to make a formal correction by retracting his disparaging remarks made about Nigerians.

Some days ago while Ted Cruz was taking a political swipe at the computer problems of the Affordable Care Act in the U.S, made unpleasant remarks against Nigerians. You can find the very insulting remark HERE.

CANAN in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Laolu Akande said:

“Although his office did confirm this, explaining that it was just a joke, CANAN finds it appalling that the good name and reputation of Nigerian-Americans is what the Senator can joke with whimsically.

Stella Oduah Replies President Jonathan's Query On N255m Cars Scandal, Defends Her Action

Embattled Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, who is facing separate probe panels set up by President Goodluck Jonathan as well as the National Assembly over the purchase of N255 million armoured cars has written the president to explain her side of the story.

The minister said procurement of the cars followed due process and was provided for in the NCAA 2013 budget.

In her defence titled: 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ON THE PROCUREMENT OF NCAA OPERATIONAL VEHICLES, she wrote: 

“The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, is the statutory regulator of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Industry.

Consequently, the NCAA is charged with oversight responsibilities over all civil aviation operations in the country, including safety, security and strict compliance with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices, SARPs, and Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations, NCARs.

2. Towards the effective implementation of its statutory regulatory responsibilities, therefore, it is imperative that the NCAA is fully equipped with highly specialised tools and facilities, including adequate operational vehicles to cover all 22 national airports and over 400 airstrips. In keeping with standard practice, provision is therefore made annually for the replacement of obsolete, inadequate and unreliable monitoring equipment.

''Nigerian Email Scammers Have Been Hired To Run Obamacare Website'' - US Senator Ted Cruz

US Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz addressed an overflow crowd of about 1,000 people on Monday night, October 21st, where he said that the Nigerian email scammers were running the Obamacaresignup website.
His words:

“You may have noticed that all the Nigerian email scammers have become a lot less active lately. They all have been hired to run the Obamacare website.”

That's a very racist  remark coming from a US senator.
Watch the video after the cut...

Princess Stella Oduah Jets Off To Meet President Jonathan In Israel

While aviation minister, Princess Stella Oduah is expected to submit her response to the query on the procurement of vehicles for about N255 million before President Jonathan returns from his Wednesday evening trip to Israel,  the aviation minister has decided to join the President in Israel.

Kwara State Governor Sacks All Commissioners, Advisers And Assistants

Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed on Wednesday dissolved the State Executive Council.

The dissolution affected all commissioners, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants.

President Jonathan Sets Up Panel To Probe Stella Oduah’s N255 Million Car Scandal

President Goodluck Jonathan  has set up a three man panel to probe the N255 million BMW cars scandal involving Princess Stella Oduah, the Minister of Aviation.

Reuben Abati, Special Adviser to President Jonathan who announced this also confirmed reports that the President also issued a query in which explanation was demanded from the Minister over the car scandal yesterday.

THISDAY Foreign Editor, Paul Ohia, Found Dead in His Car

For reasons yet unknown, THISDAY Foreign and Diplomatic Editor, Mr. Paul Ohia, was yesterday found dead in his official car, a white Kia Optima along Marine Road, Apapa, Lagos.

According to eyewitness reports, the deceased had parked his car for several hours by the side of the road, which aroused the suspicion of passersby, prompting them to move closer to check on him.

Former Reps Member Dino Melaye, Others Arrested For Organizing ''Stella Oduah-Must-Go Protest''

The police in Abuja on Wednesday arrested the Executive Director, Anti-Corruption Network, Dino Melaye, after the former House of Representatives member led pro-democracy activists on a protest, calling for the removal of the Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, over the armoured car scandal.

Embattled Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah Refuses To Attend FEC Meeting

Embattled Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, was conspicuously absent at today's meeting of the Executive Council of the Federation, FEC.

Mrs. Oduah has faced criticisms from Nigerians over the unconstitutional purchase of two armoured exotic cars for her by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA. The agency claims the cars are for the use of Mrs. Oduah and aviation-related foreign dignitaries.