The armoured BMW’s supplied to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) were claimed by Coscharis to be top of the line and military grade B7. Coscharis CEO, Josiah Samuel said the cars cost N90 million each without shipping, handling and registration costs, however experts have said that the cars supplied could not have been military grade and besides the cars were old model vehicles.
One car dealer with knowledge of armoured vehicles said, “Coscharis said it was B7, it can never be B7. Level B7 is military spec. It is only the United States President, Barack Obama that uses a personal vehicle that is B7. Obama’s car is B7, no other person. It can’t be B7; B7 for what?
“If you go to the windscreen (of the armoured vehicle), check the diameter; B6 is 35mm, B6+ is 39mm, and B7 is 72mm. That is double. I can assure you, it can never be B7. It is not possible.”
He said while the cars bought by the NCAA, which were manufactured in 2008, cost N127.5m each, “the landing cost of a brand new 2014 model imported, duty inclusive, is about N43m.”
He added, “The Toyota Prado which NCAA said cost N60m is even too high. A brand new 2013 Landcruiser 4.6L, not even Prado, supplied last week cost N48m.”
The expert also said that Coscharis was lying about the cars being more costly from the manufacturer as it should have been cheaper and explained why.
“When the manufacturers build the cars (armoured and unarmed), it is the same thing. The only advantage is that it is cheaper from them because they are not going to remove the metal panels on the car before armouring. It means when an order is placed, the panels would have been armoured before they are placed. It is easier for them and it should be cheaper,” the source said.
Also speaking on the cars, Jerry Manwe, a member of the House Committee said, “We are not fools; you have been taking us for a ride. You imported the cars without paying duty, why are you selling one for over N127m? Are your own bulletproof cars manufactured in the moon?”