The EFCC is investigating an alleged improprieties in the execution and
awarding of a N9.4b contract for the procurement and installation of
security equipment in airports.
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| Princess Stella Oduah (Pointblanknew) Senator Stella Oduah seems to have left the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission unhappy following her inability to honour the commission's invitation over alleged N9.4B contract.
The Nation reports that the anti-graft commission appears to be running out of patience with former Aviation Minister,
who is yet to honour three invitations in the last seven months, over
the security contract she approved during her tenure as the minister for
Aviation.
“The Commission has been very patient with her but she may be declared wanted if she continues this hide and seek game,” an EFCC source was quoted as saying.
It was also reported that Oduah, who said she fired by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan because ex-minister of petroleum, Diezani Alison Madueke was envious of her, may be declared wanted if she continues to be evasive.
Oduah's recent excuse for not honouring EFCC's invitation
According to the report, Oduah had
been invited thrice in the last seven months over the alleged
N9.4billion contract only for her to fail to turn up on each occasion.
An EFCC source was quoted as saying: “She
was invited on three different occasions to report for interview on the
13th June, 2017, 29th June 2017 and 13th November 2017 but she failed
to honour any of the invitations.
“Rather
than appear to face a panel that was raised by the EFCC to interrogate
her, Oduah, through a letter dated January 5, 2018, informed the
commission that she would honour the invite on January 29, 2018.
Stella Oduah(Sahara News)
“The
letter was duly acknowledged by the commission and just as the
investigators were looking forward to her arrival, Oduah played a fast
one on the EFCC with another letter indicating that she would no longer
be available on January 29.
“She
cited an invitation by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike
Ekweremadu to accompany him to London where he was scheduled to deliver a
lecture at the House of Commons on January 25.
“Oduah stated that her next convenient date to honour your invitation is 19th February, 2018”.
The N9.4billion contract in Aviation ministry
The
anti-graft agency is investigating alleged improprieties in the
execution and awarding of a contract for the procurement and
installation of security equipment in 22 airports across the country.
The contract was awarded while Oduah served as Nigeria's Aviation ministry under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan between July 4, 2011 and February 12, 2014.
It was further reported that the serving Senator has been invited in respect of an investigation into the N9, 443,549,531.25 contract awarded to I-Sec Security Nigeria Limited.
An EFCC source was quoted as saying: “There
were issues surrounding the contract, including alleged non-execution
of the project in some airports, abandonment of the contract in a few
ones, diversion of part of the contract sum and suspected case of money
laundering.
“These are
allegations she is expected to respond to in order to clear the air on
the security contract. She is only expected to explain her roles.”
Meanwhile, Senator Oduah is currently locked in a legal battle with Sterling bank over her company's alleged indebtedness.
The bank alleged that Oduah and her company, Sea Petroleum and Gas Company Ltd. were indebted to it in the sums of $16.4 million and N100.5 million.
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