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...

Another Plane Crash Averted As Med-View Airlines Takes Off 30 Seconds After Landing To Avoid Collision In Abuja

Another air disaster was averted at the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport, Abuja on Monday as a Med-View Airlines aircraft from Lagos suddenly took to the air again at the point of landing in Abuja.

The pilot told the passengers that he took to the air again to avoid a collision with another aircraft on the tarmac.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

''President Goodluck Jonathan’s Fleet Larger Than 3 Domestic Airlines'' - Investigations Revealed

This is how Punch is reporting it:

The declining fortunes of the domestic airlines have made President Goodluck Jonathan’s 10-aircraft Presidential Air Fleet larger   than the fleets of three domestic airlines combined, investigations by our correspondent revealed on Tuesday.

The three carriers are Chanchangi, MedView, and FirstNation airlines. Chanchangi has one aircraft; Medview Airlines, three; while FirstNation has  two.

IRS Airlines, with five aircraft in its fleet, has only one that is currently operational. The four others have been sent overseas for routine maintenance for a long time now.

It can be technically assumed that the PAF is bigger than the four domestic airlines, according to industry experts.

Aerocontractors, the second largest domestic airline, which currently has about 12 aircraft in its fleet, is struggling under sundry debts like every other domestic airline.

Another Aviation Agency Bought 4 Toyota Tundras For Minister Oduah, Alongside Four Limousines For VIPs

A new SaharaReporters investigation reveals that the National Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), another agency under the Ministry of Aviation, also purchased four Toyota Tundra vehicles for the Minister, Mrs. Stella Oduah.

Nigerians are currently up in arms about two armored cars purchased for her by another agency, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, at the scandalous rate of N225million, and many are calling for her to be fired.

The Tundras are in addition to four stretch limousine cars that were allegedly purchased for the movement of VIPs.

Saharareporters obtained the photos of the Limousines, which were parked at the headquarters of the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON)

grounds in Abuja today.

Federal Government Begins Massive Manhunt For The Person Who Leaked The Story Of Minister Stella Oduah’s N255m Bullet Proof Cars

The Federal Government has begun a manhunt for the whistle-blower that broke the story of the two BMW armoured cars bought for Aviation Minister, Ms. Stella Oduah.

The cars, valued at N225m, were purchased for the minister by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

Surviving 'Air Hostesses' Of Associated Airlines Plane Crash, Quinneth Owolabi To Face Amputation Due To Lack Of Financial Assistance

Last week I wrote on this blog that the Associated Airline 'Air Hostesses' Quinneth and Toyin who survived the recent plane crash have been abandoned at the hospital where they are receiving treatments. You can find that story HERE.

The sad  news now is that unless the Federal Government urgently intervenes to fly Mrs Quinneth Owolabi abroad for treatment, she would have her toes and fingers amputated due to gangrene infection.

If not for Mrs Owolabi  husband’s resistance, the amputation would have been done yesterday or today at Nigerian Air Force, NAF, base hospital in Ikeja, where she had been hospitalised since the crash.

Ministry of Aviation Confirms Purchase Of N255m BMW Armoured Vehicles For Stella Oduah

The Ministry of Aviation has confirmed that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority bought two bulletproof vehicles worth $1.6m (N255m) for the Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah.

SaharaReporters, had reported on Tuesday that the armoured vehicles were delivered to the minister in August...read the full report HERE.

The Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Joe Obi, who confirmed the development on Wednesday, said the vehicles were purchased to protect the minister from some external threats.

He said:

“Yes, it is true that some security vehicles were procured for the use of the office of the honourable minister in response to the clear and imminent threat to her personal security and life following the bold steps she took to reposition the sector.

“When she came on board as the minister, she inherited a lot of baggage in terms of the concession and lease agreements in the sector, which were clearly not in the interest of the government and people of Nigeria.

49 Feared Dead As Lao Airlines Plane Crashes Into River

 A Lao Airlines plane carrying at least 44 people and 5 crew members crashed as it tried to land in southern Laos killing all on board on Wednesday, officials said.

The plane travelling from the capital Vientiane plunged into the Mekong River around eight kilometres (five miles) from Pakse airport in Champasak province in southern Laos, officials said.

Lao Airlines confirmed the crash in a statement on its official Facebook page, in which it said there were 44 passengers and an additional five crew. Read the statement after the cut...

''Pilot's Error Caused Associated Airlines Plane Crash'' - Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB)

The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has said that the preliminary readout and analysis of Associated Airlines Embraer 120 flight 361' flight recorder indicate that the right engine of the aircraft was faulty.
The agency also said that preliminary investigation indicated that the captain-in-command of the ill-fated aircraft which crashed at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos, killing 14 passengers, Abdulrahman Yakubu, ignored the warning from the on-board computer voice.

''Crashed Associated Airline Plane Was On A Test Flight'' - Senator

Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, on Tuesday, disclosed that the report on the  Associated Airline aircraft, which was submitted to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), was forged.

Also speaking at the session, Senator Smart Adeyemi said the ill-fated aircraft was on a test flight and was, by law, not expected to carry passengers, except the pilot and engineers.

 “I was in Lagos after the crash and, in the course of my stay, I interacted with my colleagues in the media and I was surprised to gather that the plane crashed as a result of corruption.

Deji Falae Who Died On Associated Airlines Plane Crash, Would Have Been 43 Years Old Today

Chief Olu Falea's son, Ayodeji Falae would have been 43 years old today if not for the unfortunate Associated Airlines plane crash which occurred on the 3rd of October 2013...just 6 days to his birthday.

Ayodeji was born on the 9th of October, 1970 and died on the 3rd of October 2013. A candle light procession would be held for him this evening in Akure.

Below is a message from his friends:

''With heavy hearts but absolute submission to God for a short but a life well spent, we announce the transition of our beloved brother and friend, Ayodeji Falae. 

There'll be a candle light procession today 9th of October 2013 @ 5:30pm in his honor, and in respect of his birthday, same day. 

Procession assembly and take off point is the front of the Cultural Centre, Adegbemile, Akure, Ondo State.  Color code: black on black. Pls be punctual''.

May his soul continue to rest in the bosom of the lord!

Aviation Ministers @ War: Princess Stella Oduah And Femi Fani-Kayode Insult Each Other Over Associated Airlines Plane Crash

Reacting to the Associated Airlines plane crash that killed 15 people and left 5 survivors badly injured last week in Lagos, the  Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah said:

 “We do not pray for accidents but they are inevitable. But we will continue to do everything to ensure that we do not have accidents. But an accident is an act of God.

“Again, we do not speculate on the cause of accidents. Until they happen, you cannot say this is the cause or that is not the cause.

This did not go down well with former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Fani-Kayode who responded to her remarks via his twitter page:

Lol, Princess Stella Oduah did not take that lying down o.

See how she replied him after the cut::

Kabo Airlines Suspends Pilot Over Emergency Landing

Kabo Airlines has suspended its pilot who made an emergency landing at the Sokoto Airport Friday, last week...see the full story HERE.

The Kabo plane was conveying  512 passengers from Kano Airport , en route Saudi Arabia when it had to do an emergency landing at the Sokoto Airport.

Associated Airline 'Air Hostesses' Queeneth and Toyin Who Survived The Recent Plane Crash Allegedly Abandoned At The Hospital (PHOTOS)

Only two crew members of the Associated Airline survived the plane crash that occurred on Thursday.

This is Toyin Samson who survived with third degree burns, fractured legs and waist. Her legs are currently strapped to the bed and she is unable to turn to her left or right.

Herself and the second survivor, Queeneth Owolabi are receiving treatment at the Ikeja General Hospital. Somebody who appears to be very close to the women have been tweeting about their sad state.

See a photo of Queeneth and more tweets after the cut...