By Nicholas Onwukwe
ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – There was mixed reaction in the federal ministry of aviation on Thursday [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”8″]
following the controversial appointment of the former managing director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nnamdi Udoh as a deputy general manager in the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority of Nigeria (NCAA).
The latest twist in the case of the former NAMA boss who is accused by the EFCC of misappropriating [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]monies running into billions of naira using front companies, Merry Aviation Communications, Electronics and Industries Ltd (MACE), and UNICAT both belonging to an Indian, Mr Manoj Jagtiani, follows what aviation insiders termed an attempt to shield him from the long arm of the law through a back door appointment after the adjournment of the first hearing on the matter which was scheduled to hold at the Federal High Court Ikoyi on November 10, 2014.
While some highly placed persons in government were accused of trying to protect the former MD of NAMA by influencing judicial processes, and frustrating the case, stakeholders argued that the adjournment did not portend well for the nation and the image of the judiciary and the ministry of aviation.
The latest move by the former NAMA boss to accept a contract employment in the lower cadre of the federal civil service, insiders say, suggest yet another high level manoeuvring to sweep a high profile corruption case under the carpet.
The appointment they maintained would eventually see him seconded to the office of the minister of aviation where he would filter every contract job and even correspondences in aviation.
A copy of a letter addressed to the Director-General/CEO,Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority , Aviation House, Ikeja , Lagos and obtained by our reporter dated November 21, 2014 with reference number T4556/S.2/VIII/1269 subtitled: Offer of Contract Appointment: Engr Nnamdi N.Udoh FNSE and signed by the Director, Human Resources Management, NCAA, A.A.Tsafe on behalf of the Minister of Aviation, Mr Osita Chidoka, reads: “I am directed to inform you that the honourable minister has graciously approved the contract appointment of Engineer Nnamdi .N. Udoh, FNSE, with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
“I am therefore to advise you to ensure that his appointment on contract shall be in line with extant rules and procedures guiding such appointments. Please accept the assurances of the best wishes of the honourable minister.”
Nnamdi’s Udoh’s appointment was coming on the heels of the recent sack of 187 staff of the agency over irregularity in their appointments as it did not receive approval from higher authorities.
On November 10, 2014 eleven days prior to his appointment, the court case was delayed after the minister of justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke requested for the case file.