Update On Stella Oduah's N255m Bullet Proof Cars Scandal

According to findings by Punch, Jonathan had no intention of acting on the recommendation of the House of Reps committee that probed the scandal.

The House had recommended that Jonathan should sack Stella for exceeding the official limit in approving the purchase of the two bulletproof cars while sanctions were also recommended for the former acting Director General of NCAA, Nkemakolam Joyce, and the agency’s Director of Finance, Salawu Ozigi.

The panel also reportedly sought for the immediate termination of a loan agreement of N643,088,25 to finance the purchase of 54 vehicles (including the armoured vehicles) between the NCAA and the First Bank of Nigeria; Coscharis Motors Limited is to be asked to refund the N255m meant for the bulletproof vehicles while the EFCC should investigate the company for alleged abuse of waivers.

But a very reliable source in the Presidency told Punch on Friday that the President was not legally bound to act on the recommendations. The source said if Jonathan had wanted to act on the report, he would not have gone ahead to set up his own three-man administrative panel to probe the same matter.

He said, “Let us all wait for the President’s administrative panel to conclude its work and see whether he will implement the report or not.”

Reacting to moves to cover up the scandal, House of Reps spokesman, Zakari Mohammed said, “It is the duty of the Executive to implement reports; if they say they will not implement, it is left to Nigerians to judge.”