The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) today berated the probe panel of the House of Representatives for its poor response to the leakage of its report, which showed it has indicted the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, in the illegal purchase of two armoured cars.

Last night, SaharaReporters reported on the devastating findings of the committee.  Some newspapers also reported snippets of the report on Wednesday ahead of the report presentation before the House on Thursday.

Mrs. Nkiruka Onyejeocha, the Chairman of the Committee on Aviation which conducted the investigation, was enraged that the media had obtained foreknowledge of the content of the report.  Key members of the committee also expressed disgust over the development, saying that it exposed the “lack of trust” among the members.

Speaking on behalf of the Coalition, its Executive Chairman, Debo Adeniran said the panel’s reaction smacks of an attempt to doctor the report.

“We have long maintained, since the beginning of this scandal, that the various committees handling the investigation of the Oduahgate should be dissolved so that the anti-graft agencies, who have the statutory mandate to prosecute such cases, are given chance to do so under the ambit of the law. It is very clear to Nigerians now that this scandal would go the way of others.

“What warrants the unnecessary worries if the House of Reps Panel does not have anything to hide? Why shielding the content of the report from public domain if there is no attempt to doctor it? Our Coalition had already foreseen this manipulation that is why we urged Mr. President to hand over the investigation to the anti-graft agencies because we’re aware of the move by some people to play on the intelligence of the Nigerian masses on the scandal,” Adeniran said.

He insisted that the House panel report be handed over to the anti-graft agencies to prosecute the Minister.  “While Nigerians patiently wait to see the final outcome of this panel, it must be reiterated that since the report of the Reps panel has indicted the Aviation Minister, the case should be handed over to the relevant anti-graft agencies for trial.”