The Senate on Thursday rescinded its resolution to summon the Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, to appear before it over the state of the aviation sector and high number of air crashes.
Oduah, who was supposed to appear before the Senate at Plenary in Abuja, will now face the Senate Committee on Aviation at a date yet to be announced.
The Senate Leader, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba while moving a motion for the Senate to rescind its earlier resolution summoning Oduah, said it was pursuant to Order 53 (6) of the Senate Standing Rules.
The order states: “It shall be out of order to attempt to reconsider any specific question upon which the Senate has come to a conclusion during the current session except upon a substantive motion for rescission.”
Senate Minority Whip, Sen. Gain Solomon (APC- Lagos), seconded the motion.
Solomon said:”Indeed, at the executive session (closed-door) on Nov. 7, senators were unanimous that the motion should be rescinded. Instead, the minister should rather appear before the Senate Committee on Aviation.”
The Senate had suspended the earlier scheduled appearance of Oduah due to the absence of the Senate President.
Ndoma-Egba had informed the legislators that the Senate president had desired to “personally” preside over the session with Oduah.
Relying on Order 53, Rule 6 of the Senate Standing Rules, the senators unanimously voted for the earlier resolution to be rescinded.
Before ruling on the motion, the Senate president asked whether the senators had any comment in opposition of the motion but this was followed by silence.
The Minister of Aviation had been criticised over the alleged purchase of two bulletproof vehicles for her by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) at the cost of N255 million.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, told newsmen on Thursday that there was no “pressure” from the Presidency to cover up the allegation.
Uzodinma said: “I don’t know where you heard what you heard but what I had just said is the decision is in order.
“I think the “rescinded summon’’ is proper and it is in order and in accordance with the Senate rules,” he said.
However, Uzodinma was not forthcoming with a definite date when the Aviation Minister is expected to appear before his committee.
“The timetable will be worked out as soon we meet at the committee level,” he said.
