The Federal Ministry of Finance has denied granting waivers for the importation of the N255m cars purchased for embattled Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

According to Special Adviser to Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Paul Nwabuikwu, the last time the ministry granted such waiver was in 2012, to the Lagos State government for its National Sports Festival but not for the importation of armoured cars.

“Reports, which claim that the Federal Ministry of Finance granted a waiver to Coscharis Motors Nigeria Ltd for the purchase of armoured cars, are totally false and without foundation”, Nwabuikwu said.

“On June 23, 2012, the Lagos State Government applied for Waiver of Destination Inspection Charges and Duty Exemptions for Coscharis Motors Nigeria Ltd, the official Automobile Partner for the National Sports Festival (“EKO 2012”), to purchase 300 vehicles on its behalf for the event. Since the Lagos State Government met the laid down criteria, the waiver was granted.”

Nwabiukwu explained that “the waiver granted to the Lagos State Government for the event did not include the purchase of armoured vehicles.”

Deputy Comptroller of Customs in charge of Modern Research and Economic Relations, Manasa Daniel Jatau had told the Federal House of Representatives public hearing on the controversial purchase of two armoured vehicles for the minister of aviation for N255m that the N10,133,505.74 that should have accrued to the Federal Government was waived for Coscharis.

In 2012, the Lagos state government was granted waiver by President Goodluck Jonathan on import duty, value added tax, ETLS, CISS and other port charges to import 300 units of BMW, Ford, Land Rover, Range Rover, Lexus, Mercedes, Escalade, Jaguar and buses for use during the 18th National Sports Festival (EKO 2012) to be imported through Messrs Coscharis Motors Nigeria Limited.