30th October, 2013
The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) on Wednesday staged a protest in Lagos to demand investigation and prosecution of Aviation Minister, Ms Stella Oduah, over the alleged purchase of two armoured BMW cars.
CACOL, an NGO, staged the protest at the office of the Independent Corrupt Practice and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in Lagos, and presented a petition to the commission.
Oduah had been embroiled in controversy over the alleged purchase of two armoured BMW cars for her by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) valued at N225 million.
The prices of the vehicles were alleged to have been inflated and the purchase did not go through due process.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the protesters numbering over 100 besieged the ICPC office chanting solidarity songs and demanding that the commission accept a petition from them.
In the petition delivered by its Executive Chairman, Mr Debo Adeniran, CACOL also called for the probe of activities of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority and other agencies under the Ministry of Aviation.
“We also believe that apart from probing the authenticity of the market cost of the said cars, the source of authority and procedure should also be probed,” Adeniran stated.
CACOL also urged the commission to beam its investigative searchlight on other agencies of government to check the culture of impunity and recklessness in governance.
Receiving the petition, Mr Binga Shintema, the Head, ICPC office, Lagos, assured the protesters that the commission would take necessary action.
“We will forward this petition to our head office in Abuja without delay,’’ he said.