Human rights activist and Lagos-based lawyer, Festus
Keyamo, has picked holes in the position of the
Federal Government regarding the $9.3 million cash
that was seized by the South African Police,
describing it as not only ludicrous, but also
laughable.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Keyamo said,
“From my little understanding, the Federal
Government’s position can be summarised as
follows:
1. That it is aware of the movement of such large
sum of money by cash out of the country.
2. That the cash is meant for the purchase of arms to
fight insurgency.
3. That the transaction was done by cash to ensure
the speed of the transaction.
4. That it resorted to buy from South Africa because
of procedural bottlenecks in the purchase of such
items from western countries.
The above position of the Federal Government is not
only ludicrous, it is laughable, untenable and a story
only fit to be told to the marines. The following
rhetoric posers are germane to this issue:
1. Is it really faster and safer to do an international
transaction of such magnitude by ferrying cash
across the continent or by a simple wire transfer that
can go through in a matter of few minutes or few
hours?
2. If, indeed, the matter involves security issues like
the purchase of arms by a foreign government like
Nigeria, why was the South African Government not
brought into the picture beforehand? How could the
South African Government be sure that the arms
were purchased legitimately by the Nigerian
government and not by insurgents if they were not
officially informed beforehand?
3. If indeed the manufacturer(s) of such equipment
was/were expecting such large amount by cash, why
did they not make adequate arrangements with the
authorities in South Africa to declare and clear the
cash on arrival?
4. Why was money belonging to the Federal
Government and meant for purchase of equipment
for the Federal Government moved by a private jet
and by private individuals and why were they not
accompanied by the officials of the Department of
State Services or the office of the National Security
Adviser in official capacities?
5. Why would a government that is at the peak of
promoting the cashless policy in our economy be the
chief breaker of that policy by moving such a large
amount by cash?
6. If, indeed, it was a legitimate transaction of the
Federal Government, why were the officials of our
embassy in South Africa not on hand to make the
entry easier and smoother?
7. Since the South African Government has said the
amount is above the limit of cash allowed into that
country, why would a whole government like Nigeria
not know the simple immigration laws of a sister and
friendly country before allowing that type of amount
of cash to be taken to that country?
8. Why would the Nigerian government seek to
smuggle cash into a country without disclosure if it
was, indeed, for a legitimate transaction?
9. From where did the Federal Government source
that amount in Nigeria? Was it from the Central Bank
of Nigeria or from the black market? Nigerians
demand answers to this with proof.
10. Is it just a wicked coincidence that it is the aircraft
belonging to a personal friend and unapologetic ally
of the President in the person of Pastor Ayo
Oritsejafor (my big brother in Warri), that was used
to smuggle the cash?
11. If, contrary to the above posers, the transaction
was contracted out to a private company in Nigeria,
does it not amount to the offence of Money
Laundering under our laws for the Federal
Government to have allowed that company to
attempt to pay for the equipment by cash to the tune
of that amount without passing through a financial
institution?
Pls Re broadcast in the interest of our nation

Feeling sleepy. Would comment in the morning.