EVEN as Nigerians grapple with the embarrassing revelations concerning Rep. Farouk Lawan over the recent subsidy fraud, as well as pension scandals, another group of lawmakers have also been linked with another bribery scandal in the aviation sector.
They are lawmakers overseeing the joint House and Senate committee on Aviation.
A source who is very close to both committees disclosed to sister publication African Examiner that a sum of $2 million was allegedly shared by the lawmakers for the approval of the Ministry of Aviation to draw from the now scandalous Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) fund.
Findings also revealed that some of the lawmakers in the National Assembly who benefited from the $2 million had during the annual recess travelled overseas with their families to enjoy their proceeds of corruption.
According to the source, the sum of $1 million in gratification was allegedly given to each of the committees in order to fast-track the approvalof the BASA fund.
Both committees had recently held series of closed-door meetings over the BASA Funds without making public details of their deliberations, a development that raised suspicion that dirty deals might have occurred outside of the public eye.
Recall that senate had last Thursday rejected the report of the Senate Committee on Aviation headed by Hope Uzodima for undisclosed reasons.
Uzodima and his counterpart from the House, Nkiru Onyejeocha, led proceedings at the said closed door meetings with other members of the committee
Further Investigation revealed that a total sum of $11.8m has so far been withdrawn from the BASA Account as at first week of August 2012 and paid to contractors on the remodeling and renovation projects at the airports.
All the requests for the payment were signed by George Uriesi, FAAN managing director top Harold Demuren, Director General of NCAA after which Permanent Secretary of Federal Ministry of Aviation instructed CBN to release the fund.
The sum of $2m allegedly paid to the National Assembly Committees on Aviation as bribe was to ensure seamless approval of the proposal for the withdrawals of the BASA funds.” Our source stated
Effort to meet Senator Babayo Gamawa, deputy chairman Senate Committee on Aviation proved abortive as the senior legislative aide to the senator said that he travelled.
Also, several calls placed to Hon Nkiru Onyejeocha, chairperson House Aviation Committee to speak on the latest allegations and why the committee has remained silent on the scandalous BASA funds rocking the Aviation sector were not answered.