Senate uncovers purchase of another four armoured vehicles for Oduah, FAAN MD

FAAN buys four armoured cars, 202 vehicles illegally

As the controversy over the purchase of two BMW 760Li Series armoured cars by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority rages on, another illegal purchase has been discovered.
The Senate Committee on Aviation on Wednesday confirmed that the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria also purchased illegally 206 vehicles, including two armoured Lexus Limousine cars and two armoured Toyota Prado jeeps.
It was also discovered that two of the four vehicles are said to be for the embattled Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, and another two for the Managing Director of FAAN, George Uriesi.
Some of the vehicles were also bought for the use of directors of the agency.
Uriesi told the Senate committee that the limousines were bought for N60 million each but could not however confirm the cost of the Prado Jeeps, adding that the vehicles are in the custody of a bank.
Asked to name the bank that funded the purchase of the vehicles as claimed, Uriesi declined.
He also disclosed that Oduah approved the purchase but added that he did not sign.
According to Uriesi, who was spoke at a public hearing convened to address the crisis in the aviation sector, somebody signed on his behalf.
He equally declined to mention the person.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Hope Uzondinma said: “Investigation is still ongoing and it will not be fair for me to pre-empt it.
“FAAN did confirm that among the operational vehicles they purchased, four of them are armoured vehicles, two for the MD and two for the minister.
“And we told them to go back and put everything in writing and make a comprehensive statement on all vehicles purchased.
“That they bought a total number of 202 vehicles for different operations.
“So until they come back on Monday, we cannot rush into conclusion.
“The MD FAAN said they did a funding arrangement with a commercial bank.”
The chairman assured Nigerians of a thorough investigation of extra-budgetary spendings by the aviation parastatals.
His words: “This investigation will be a very deep one so that at the end of the day, we do a holistic approach and look at how the sector will be repositioned so that all anomalies will be corrected.