The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) on Wednesday staged a protest at the Lagos offices of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to demand investigation and prosecution of Aviation Minister, Ms Stella Odua, over the alleged purchase of two armoured BMW cars.
Though, the policemen shot thrice into the air, the protesters insisted on gaining entrance into the premises of the commission.
However, Chairman of the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, Mr. Debo Adediran, who spoke on behalf of the protesters lamented that many lives have been lost due to corruption in the aviation sector.
The protesters, who presented a petition to ICPC prayed that investigations should be commenced into the activities of the minister for abuse of office; the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority; Nigerian Airspace Management Agency; Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and other relevant agencies under the Ministry of Aviation.
He said: “The purchase of the bulletproof cars is outrageous. It is the ICPC that should deal with anything that has to do with official corruption. There reaction has been that they have not got a petition to action that is why investigation has not begun. Now we have submitted a petition, we want them to act.
“If Oduah is found guilty after the probe, we want her to go to jail, we want anybody found culpable to be prosecuted diligently, we want anybody found guilty to be adequately punished and until we get that we will not rest on our voice.”
He also urged President Jonathan to expose corrupt ministers, including Oduah, saying that, “it is saddening that the President who should set precedent for Nigerians to follow could be shielding the indicted and even include them in his entourage to Israel on holy pilgrimage. It is also not unlikely that Ms. Oduah is in the league of Mr. President’s benefactors.
“Though the President has set up a panel to investigate the allegations, but it must be noted that most of the time when President Jonathan sets up his panels, they are to bury the issues rather than bending it to justice.”
Chief Superintendent of ICPC in Lagos, Mr. Binga Shitema, who attended to the protesters, assured them that necessary steps would be taken and the petition would be acted upon.