The House of Representatives committee on aviation has confirmed there was no budgetary approval for the ministry of aviation to purchase armoured cars for Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah .

At its ongoing investigative hearing in Abuja, the committee said there was a proposal for the two cars by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, but that it was turned down.

The committee had earlier insisted that Minister Oduah must appear before it before Tuesday.

The committee said the NCAA bought 54 vehicles when approval was given for only 25.

The armoured cars were specifically rejected even when the NCAA proposed to buy each for N70million.

But the agency said it received approval from the minister to purchase the two cars at an higher cost of N255 million.

Meanwhile in the budget approved by the national assembly (the one for 25 cars), the agency said the cars were needed to inspect perimeter fence.

More to come …