JONATHAN INVESTIGATES AVIATION MINISTER

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday succumbed to pressure mounted on him by Nigerians  on the N255m bulletproof cars purchased for the Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, by instituting a probe into the matter.The President’s decision came less than 24 hours after members of the House of Representatives ordered an investigation into the matter.The House, which on Wednesday, denied   giving approval for  the purchase of the controversial bulletproof vehicles,  also ordered  the  NCAA  to produce its statement of account for the past five years.The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, disclosed the constitution of a three-member  probe  panel    while fielding questions from State House correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja.Abati said having received information on the  scandal, Jonathan had taken initial steps by asking the embattled Oduah  for explanation.He said by  empanelling the committee to carry out further investigation, the President  had taken  a further step on the matter.A  former Head of Service of the Federation, Alhaji Isa Bello, is the chairman of  the committee which has the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), and Air-Vice Marshal Dick Iruenebere (retd.) as members.The  panel, which has two weeks to submit its report ,will  among other things, ascertain whether the procurement of the vehicles followed due process and  the purpose of procurement.