After repeatedly ignoring public condemnation on the recent purchase of two bulletproof cars for Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah at the cost of N225m, President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday inaugurated a three-man committee to investigate the matter.
The committee, christened Administrative Panel of Inquiry, will be chaired by immediate past Head of Service of the Federation (HoS), Sali Bello Isa, while the members are National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki and Air Vice Marshal Dick Iruenebere.
According to Special Adviser to the President on Media and publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, the president opted to constitute the panel considering the “weight of the allegation”, and has already mandated it to submit its report within two weeks.
“President Jonathan is determined to ensure that the truth regarding the purchase is unveiled”, Abati told State House Correspondents after Wednesday’s edition of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, which Minister Oduah absented herself from.
“The president assures the general public that nobody, no matter how highly placed, will be shielded from this enquiry”.
The panel is expected to examine the procurement process of the cars to ascertain the purpose for which they were purchased, and any other relevant issue.
Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Fola Akinkuotu had defended Oduah, saying the cars were bought in response to continuous threats to her life.
Earlier on Tuesday, both chambers of the National Assembly initiated concrete step towards investigating the purchase of the bulletproof cars by the NCAA, especially with regard to the price of the cars, which is believed to have been inflated.
