Oduah escapes Senate open hearing

Senate on Thursday rescinded its resolution to summon Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, to brief it on the state of aviation sector and the high number of aviation accidents in the country.
Oduah, who has for some time now been entangled in the controversies surrounding the purchase of two BMW bulletproof cars at a whopping N255 million by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), was supposed to appear before the Senate to explain all she knew about the deal.
But Senators have now resolved that Oduah and Chief Executive Officers of agencies under her ministry should instead appear before the Committee on Aviation over the issue.
Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma–Egba, who moved the motion to this effect, said the action was based on the Senate Standing Order 53 (6) which empowered it to reverse its decision if it so desires.
He added that the decision was taken at the executive committee meeting of the Senate last week.
Senator Ganiyu Solomon, who seconded the motion, confirmed that “indeed, at the executive session last week, the Senators were unanimous in the decision that the resolution should be rescinded and that the minister should rather face the Aviation Committee.”
There was an anti-climax during the session when Senate President, David Mark, called for comments from the Senators and none of them offered any contrary opinion.
Mark also requested for votes from his colleagues on whether to approve or reject the prayers in the motion moved by the Senate Leader, but all of them voted in support.
The action of the Senate came on the day that Ondo State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Deji Falae, one of the victims of the October 3 Associated Airlines plane crash in Lagos, was buried in Akure, the state capital.
Oduah was scheduled to appear before the Senate on Thursday to brief Senators about the state of the aviation industry, particularly the Associated Airlines plane crash.
Oduah would have appeared before the Senators last week Thursday but her appearance was rescheduled for yesterday because the Senate President was not available.
He had requested to personally preside over the probe session.
The minister and her aides were on their way to the Senate last Thursday when they were told that their appearance had been shifted to November 14.
Ndoma–Egba, based on the Order Paper, had last week asked his colleagues to receive the minister and other aviation executives who were invited to brief the Senate on the state of the aviation sector and the higher number of aviation incidents.
Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, informed his colleagues that the minister and her team could not be received again because Mark was not around.
He said the Senate President had signified his intention to personally preside over the session before he travelled to the United Arab Emirates as head of the Federal Government delegation to render moral support for the Golden Eaglets, who were to play their final match in Dubai on Friday.
Ekweremadu had said: “I think we should oblige the Senate President that opportunity to preside over the session because he was passionate about it and he would have been around today but for the last minute national assignment given to him.”
Ndoma–Egba, therefore, moved another motion for the postponement of Oduah’s visit to November 14 while Senate Minority Whip, Ganiyu Solomon, seconded him.