South African authorities have confiscated yet another US$5.7 million arms money from Nigeria, nearly three weeks after seizing $9.3 million in cash transported by two Nigerians and an Israeli for arms purchase, South Africa-based City Express reported Monday.
As with the first deal, South Africa’s Asset Forfeiture Unit of the National Prosecuting Authority seized the $5.7 million (about N952 million) for allegedly being the proceeds of illegal transactions, the paper said.
The news came more than two weeks after two Nigerians and an Israeli national were arrested in South Africa after they attempted to smuggle US$9.3 million apparently meant for buying arms for the Nigerian intelligence service.
The men landed at Lanseria International Airport, Johannesburg, on September 5 in a private jet from Abuja with the money stashed in three suitcases.
At the time, the South Africa Revenue Service, SARS, said customs officers became suspicious when the passengers’ luggage were unloaded and put through the scanners.
The National Prosecuting Authority, NPA, in South Africa said there was an invoice for helicopters and armaments intended to be used in Nigeria.
Two black plastic suitcases, filled with 90 blocks each containing US$100,000 in notes, with combination locks, were seized, as well as two pieces of hand luggage also containing US currency, according to City Press.
The Israeli national, Eyal Mesika, had the combination to open the locks.
Under South African laws, a person entering or leaving the country is expected to carry cash not exceeding US$2,300, or the equivalent in foreign currency notes.
The news of the first transaction sparked anger in Nigeria after it emerged the private jet involved belonged to the head of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Ayo Ortisejafor.
Mr. Oritsejafor, a close ally of President Goodluck Jonathan, said the plane had been leased to a third party and he could not be blamed for its schedules.
The Nigerian government later admitted it was behind the arms deal, claiming it acted out of desperation for arms to defeat extremist sect, Boko Haram.
An investigation planned by the Senate into the transaction has yet to begin while the House of Representatives threw out a motion seeking a probe.
The South African newspaper, City Press, said documents in its possession show that the first consignment was personally signed off by the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, who issued the end-user certificate for the transaction.
An entire “shopping list” was supplied with the certificate, which included everything from helicopters to unmanned aircraft, rockets and ammunition, it said.
The latest transaction, according to the paper, was between Cerberus Risk Solutions, an arms broker in Cape Town, and Societe D’Equipments Internationaux, said to be a Nigerian company based in Abuja.
The paper said the deal fell apart after Cerberus which had earlier received from Nigeria R60 million (N1.02 billion) in its account at Standard Bank, tried to repay the money as it it could not resolve its registration formalities with the South African authorities.
“Cerberus was previously registered as a broker with the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC), but the registration expired in May this year,” City Press said.
“The marketing and contracting permits also expired at the same time. The company has since applied for re-registration, but the application lay in the NCACC’s mailbox for more than two months.
“Sources told Rapport that Cerberus apparently tried to pay the money back to the Nigerian company, after which the bank became suspicious,” the paper reported.
The paper added that while the NPA’s Asset Forfeiture Unit subsequently obtained a court order in the South Gauteng High Court to seize the money, the NPA spokesperson Nathi Mncube, said there were no indications the two transactions were related.
“However, both are now the subject of a criminal investigation and all possible information and connections are being investigated,” Mr. Mncube was quoted as saying.
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God will keep revealing and exposing those evil doers in our country
ReplyDeleteI wonder who Prince Emma is regarding as evil doers. Is it a nation being victimized and denied arms by the Superpowers who can sell arms to terrorists?
Delete- We are all aware that the united states and uk has refused to sell arms or share intelligence information with the Nigerian army.
- We are also aware that the terrorists have better weapons than our army to such an extent that our generals and their troops now run into the Forrest on seeing Boko haram armament power.
in desperatio a nation you call your own with active approval of the security adviser is looking for arms wherever they can get any.
- Most nations refused to deal because we will not succumb to gay marriage.
- As a last resort, Nigeria has turned to Russia and south Africa to buy weapons (not for free)
- South Africa is busy seizing/stealing our money after all Nigeria did for them at their time of need.
- instead of upbraiding South Africa for provocation, we joined politicians who are bent on bringing down the Government to divert attention to who owns the plane used by our SSS to embark on this journey of desperation.
- Come to think of it, should SSS team have trekked to South Africa?
- Should they have used a commercial aircraft?
- Obviously the choice is between using a private jet, chattered aircraft or Presidential aircraft.
- For some reason (may be secrecy), they avoided the last option
- How has people struggling to protect you from terror become evil doers?
One good thing I see in all of these is that Nigeria will see the need to develop their armament industry. Afterall, nobody will go and seize north Korean, Russia or China's money because they will not come to you for arms.
Can we call an arms deal duly endorsed by a Nation's security adviser illegal?
DeleteWe know that any arms bought by the nigerian state ends up in the hands if BH
ReplyDeleteBesides, why should a legal arms purchase. By the nigerian govt be done secretly
Why not carry out proper research,so you can talk like a reasonable person. You should be asking questions like,why should America refuse to sell arms to Nigeria and even frustrate efforts to buy from other European countries, while Boko haram is.getting constant supply of better weapons.
DeleteWhat are you people saying, is Nigeria the only country buying arms secretly, are there no procedures for these things? You don't just go around flouting another country's laws because there is disregard for the rule of law in this country. If things are done professionally and in the right way, we will be saved all these embarrassment. How do we know it's not one of those trips by those in power to steal our money as they usually do.
ReplyDeleteWhy do the Government flout its own procurement regulation? Yes, there is need to buy arms but must it be done in a way devoid of transparency? There is no justification carrying such a large some of money in cash in an economy that preaches cashless transaction. He who claims equity must come with clean hands.
ReplyDeleteCan a golden fish hide under the water? How can naija govt thas has bilateral relationship with SA be smuggling cash into their country? Arms deal is done between countries and not bought across the counter. Few questions
ReplyDelete- was SA govt notified ahead?
- was d ambassador notified?
- why was the cash not declared as official ? Not until it was discovered by agencies
- why carry such cash out of ur country when ur CBN here and theirs can do the transaction over a tab of button? After all is it not an official expenditure?
This is just one of the govt loot gone bad. Even if d NSA signed it yes for what purpose? I don't want to talk abt the person of the NSA but pls a lot is wrong abt dat transaction. God help us
Commenting on issues you don't have sufficient information on could often time be misleading. We've been told that intelligence organizations of most nations do these kind of deals with cash. Why don't we give ours the benefit of doubt? Obama pledged to assist us in fighting terrorism with mouth yet they refused to sell us the needed arms. Do expect our army to fight Boko haram with stones and fulani cattle rearers stick? South Africa may be doing America's bidding now, but their cup fo soon full. This is the time we all need to rally around our military and intelligence organizations to rout these cancerous Boko Haram from our land.
ReplyDeleteASK C.A.N PRESIDENT.ITS THE REMAINING SECRETE ARMS DEAL MEANT FOR NIGER-DELTA OR SECRETE SPONSOR OF B.H.THATS WHY ITS BEEN DIFFICULT DEFEATING B.H.WE BEEN FIGHTING THE WRONG DIRECTION.PRESIDENCY WANTS TO KILL THE STORY.
ReplyDeleteSaying that arms are needed to fight the insurgency is a camouflage to buy arms for 2015. Since the Nigerian government was busted for the $9.3m they should have come clean b4 embarking on this 5.7m. Obviously they are gathering tools of mayhem for 2015
ReplyDeletewhat rubbish are u saying who mention CAN hear US at work they are the one behind south africa thats why they are doing all this...if CAN is sponsoring BH why is it that those who kill this people are hausas that means they dont have sense somebody is sposoring them to kill there people if you dont no what to say u better keep quite.....moron.....US is behinde all the problm this country are facing
ReplyDeletegay marriage is the problm...and God wl punish US govt and south africa Govt they are behinde all this
ReplyDeleteAs we read dis news it beats hard on d heart seing d great harm is bringing 2 our leaders nd citizens of dis great country. When will d wicked learn nd make a chage so dat d image of dis great could wld be reinstated nd not tarnished. When u, our so called leaders re so hardened in dubious activities, how can u escape frm God's furry anger? I as a citizen of dis country pray 4 thorough investigatn nd pepatrators be brought 2 book so as show law abidg citiazens of dis country nd d world dat individual or groups is higher than d law of her country. Tnk u!
ReplyDeleteMost people are sounding the way they do because boko haram has not landed at their door steps (God forbid). Niger delta and boko haram does not need an unmanned aircraft to do surveillance as they can do so by pretending to be an ordinary citizen.
ReplyDeleteDo you wonder how boko haram is communicating when all communication system is supposed to be grounded? These people have better equipment than the army. The result is that the renowned Nigerian army is beginning to resist order. We all know what that means. Read the story very well. Any formal arms deal through the right channel will not sail through because South Africa cannot refuse US bidding.
We tend to over politicise things because wv have evil minds. Why is the owner of the latest aircraft not mentioned?
Nigerans, let us think straight. No government will seat by and sponsor hoodlums to destroy his administration