This is an exclusive report from
Sahara reporters with documents to back
their claim. Check on it below
SaharaReporters has obtained documents
further exposing the depth of corruption and
mismanagement of public funds at Nigeria’s
Ministry of Aviation headed by Stella Oduah.
One of the documents details how Ms. Oduah
compelled the cash-strapped Nigerian Civil
Aviation Authority (NCAA) to purchase two
armored BMW cars for the minister. NCAA is the
agency charged with ensuring the airworthiness
of commercial planes flying within Nigeria’s
airspace. Two officials of the agency told
SaharaReporters that the NCAA did not have
enough funds to upgrade equipment, send staff
for critical training, and hire enough qualified
staff. “Yet, all the minister is concerned about is
to have two exotic BMW cars from the little
money we have for operations,” one of the
sources said.
The documents obtained by SaharaReporters
indicate that the transaction for the purchase of
the two BMW vehicles started in June 2013.
However, the request for delivery of and
payment for the two vehicles was fast-tracked
between August 13 and 15 2013. The
transaction involved the NCAA, First Bank of
Nigeria, and Coscharis Motors Limited.
In a letter dated August 13, 2013, J.D
Nkemakolam of the NCAA sent a letter to the
Managing Director of Coscharis Motors asking
the company to deliver to the NCAA two BMW
760 armored vehicles based on a pro-forma
invoice dated June 25, 2013 at the cost of N127,
575,000 ($796,846.21) each. The total amount
for the two vehicles came to N255,150,000, or $
1,593,687.31. The NCAA’s letter directed
Coscharis Motors to deliver the vehicles with
sales invoices, delivery notes, and attestation
documents.
Our documents reveal that the payment for the
vehicles was made into a First Bank of Nigeria
account (number 2018912995 with sort code:
0111152303), according to a letter signed by
Godwin Umeaka, Coscharis’ group financial
controller.
The two black BMW Li HSS vehicles had chases
numbers WBAHP41050DW68032 and
WBAHP41010DW68044 respectively. The two
cars were delivered to the NCAA on August 13,
2013, where it was received by two store
managers, F. Onoabhagbe and Y.A. Amzat (who
is also the agency’s head of transport). On
August 15, 2013, Sola Ogunsakin of the NCAA
signed off to certify completion of the
transaction.
In an extensive investigation of the Aviation
sector after three air mishaps in Nigeria’s
airspace, SaharaReporters found a pattern of
questionable expenditures authorized by the
minister. Several insiders within the aviation
industry have told SaharaReporters that Ms.
Oduah and President Goodluck Jonathan had
focused on the Aviation Ministry as a source for
a series of corrupt activities.
“Under Mrs. Oduah, the ministry has carried out
many big capital development projects. But
what outsiders don’t know is that these projects
are being used to divert big amounts into private
pockets,” an aviation source said.
Our sources disclosed that the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had
investigated several corrupt practices in the
aviation sector, but added that the anti-
corruption agency never had the backbone to
act on their findings due to political pressure
from the Presidency.
Several sources at the agency told
SaharaReporters that they were not aware of
the whereabouts of the two BMW cars. Some of
the sources stated that the cars were handed to
the minister who had converted them to private
use.
Several interest groups have been demanding
the removal of Ms. Oduah, citing her corrupt
tendencies, mismanagement of aviation funds
and incompetence. Under her watch, the
Nigerian airspace has witnessed several air
mishaps that claimed the lives of at least 140
people.
A Presidency source told SaharaReporters that
Ms. Oduah still retains the confidence of
President Jonathan. She is a close associate of
Mr. Jonathan, serving as the treasurer who
handled funds for the Jonathan campaign during
the 2011 presidential election. She also co-
chaired the campaign group known as
Neighbor-To-Neighbor.
Minister of Aviation BMW 760 Li HSS Armoured
car documents
