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While the war on graft continues, Senator Stella Oduah, has said that allegation that she bought a $1.2m house in England as a serving Minister of Aviation is untrue.
Oduah in a media parley Thursday in Abuja told journalists that the allegation lacks basis. An online report had alleged that the lawmaker bought the property under another name and the deal was exposed when she attempted to rent it out in March, 2017.
The former Minister however described as “unfortunate’’, the medium’s penchant for continual publication of falsehood about politicians and people in government.
“Of course, the allegation is not true, it cannot be true. It is unfortunate that we have a country where journalists will copy a story without verifying the authenticity of that story,” she said, adding that, “When you read my statement on it later, then it will be for you to make up your mind. But, categorically it is untrue and it is unfair.’’
Same way the Senator recalled a publication credited to the same online platform which had alleged that she bought two BMW cars when she served as a Minister.
According to her, the platform lied and that the vehicles were owned by the Federal Government which remained the government’s property even after she left office.
“In fact, bullet proof cars were never a transaction that was not approved. They were two vehicles that were on hired purchase by the agency and the ministry directed that because of the need as proposed by the agency, they should go ahead and do the hired purchase,” she said.
Oduah stated further that, “Suddenly, for the online medium, hired purchase turned into procurement; I don’t know if there is a similarity between hired purchase and procurement.
“So, I now realise and symphatise with anybody that works or tries to work for government, because you will have the likes of Sahara Reporters thrive on making your life difficult.
“I rise above that at all times because I know that what they say is never the truth, particularly on my case, it is not true.
“It cannot be true; why will I purchase vehicles on hired purchase and then it is on the ministry’s and agency’s name, why?
“That same vehicle, I never drove it for one day and when I was leaving the ministry, I didn’t take it along with me?
“The question should be `where are those bullet proof cars today?” she said.
