FLASHBACK: How Jonathan Fired Stella Oduah Over Bulletproof Car Scandal
A former Aviation Minister and Senator representing Anambra North, Stella Oduah, does not have a valid National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate, the service has said.
In a letter replying the request by the Concerned Anambra North Peoples Democratic Party Stakeholders which sought to validate the claim by the Senator that she lost her NYSC certificate, the Director General of the service said even though Oduah was mobilised for national service in 1982/83 service year and was deployed to Lagos State, she absconded after the orientation and never completed the service.
This is not the first time that Oduah will make the headlines for a controversial reason.
In February 2014, Oduah was fired by President Goodluck Jonathan after she was caught in a web of a scandalous purchase of two BMW bulletproof cars for $1.6 million.
Oduah and three other ministers within the Jonathan administration were relieved of their positions on the orders of the President. However, their sack was passed off as voluntary resignation from the cabinet.
The other ministers sacked were, the minister of the Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe, minister of police affairs, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade (rtd) and the minister of state for Finance, Yerima Ngama
In 2013, Oduah had compelled the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to pay Coscharis Motors, an auto dealer, approximately $1.6 million for the two BMW bullet-proof cars.
As at that time, the highest cost for each such car in both the US and UK was $267,000 per car.
NCAA disclosed that the two cars were never delivered, compounding a scam by Ms. Oduah who reportedly split the $1.6 million funds. (Daily trust)