I didn’t buy $1.2m house in UK – Oduah

A former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, on Thursday dismissed report she bought a $1.2 million house in the United Kingdom during her stint as minister, describing the allegation as untrue.

She said the report in an online publication was a total falsehood without any foundation.

The report alleged that the ex-minister purchased the property with another name and that the ownership of the property was uncovered when she attempted to rent it out in March this year.

Oduah described as “unfortunate,” the medium’s penchant for publication of falsehood on politicians and people in government.

She said: “Of course, the allegation is not true, it cannot be true.

“It is unfortunate that we have a country where journalists will copy a story without verifying the authenticity of that story.

“When you read my statement on it later, then it will be for you to make up your mind. But, categorically it is untrue and it is unfair.”

The senator recalled that the same online medium had reported that she purchased two BMW cars when she was minister.

Oduah said the medium only published lies, adding that the vehicles were property of the Federal Government, which she never bought for herself or took away when she left office.

She added: “In fact, bullet proof cars were never a transaction that was not approved.

“They were two vehicles that were on higher purchase by the agency and the ministry directed that because of the need as proposed by the agency, they should go ahead and do the higher purchase.

“Suddenly, for the online medium, higher purchase turned into procurement. I don’t know if there is a similarity between higher purchase and procurement.”

NAN