The Federal Government was aware of the
move by two Nigerians and an Israeli to
purchase arms in South-Africa, The PUNCH’s
investigations have revealed.
A security source told one of our
correspondents that the $9.3m seized from
the two Nigerians and an Israeli in
Johannesburg Airport on Monday, were
meant to procure arms for the intelligence
community in Nigeria.
It was learnt that the government had been
reaching out to the South African Government
to secure the release of the detained
Nigerians and the Israeli.
It was gathered that the Federal Government
had commenced talks with South Africa on
the $9.3m seized by the latter at the
Johannesburg Airport.
It was, however, not clear if the government
was aware of the manner the money was
moved.
The source explained that the deal involving
the $9.3m was legitimate and was initiated
to get a faster response to the urgent need
for equipment to quell the Boko Haram
insurgency in the country.
It was also stated that the Federal
Government had commenced investigations
into the cause of the embarrassing seizure of
the money by the South African authorities
and the failure of the agents to declare the
money at the entry point.
The security source explained that the
Federal Government had to look elsewhere to
get the equipment that were required for the
ongoing counter terrorism operation in view
of the continuing delay in the release of
equipment by the Western countries.
It was stated that the country was still
waiting to take delivery of equipment that had
been ordered for about three months ago
because of ‘compliance issues.’
It was added that it would be inconceivable
for the country to keep waiting for anything
for such compliance issues to be sorted out
with people being killed in the North-East.
The source explained that the order for
helicopters indicated clearly that the
equipment was not meant for the insurgents.
“In the intelligent community, such things are
not uncommon. I can tell you that the deal is
a legitimate business. The concern is the
process that caused the embarrassment.
Government is trying to investigate what
caused the embarrassment. Are you saying
that all the countries involved in the crisis in
Syria, do all their transactions through the
bank?
“The concern should be if the items are for
terrorists. There are compliance issues which
can delay equipment needed urgently for
operation; several orders have been given for
three months but up till now, we have not
taken delivery of the items.
“Some of the equipment are from Russia,
others are still been expected. Nigeria cannot
wait forever because people are being killed.
“That transaction is legitimate in a critical
period where speed is of essence, but this
doesn’t say that the government would not
investigate what caused the embarrassment
such as the issue of non-declaration at the
airport.
“The business is very vital to what is
happening in the North-East; the plane is
back, the country is discussing with South
Africa. At the diplomatic level, their response
is very fair.”
Efforts to get explanations of the Nigerian
Customs Service on how the aircraft evaded
checks of the service at the Nnamdi Azikwe
International Airport, Abuja, did not succeed
as the NCS Public Relations Officer, Mr. Wale
Adeniyi, did not pick calls nor respond to
SMS to his mobile telephone as of the time of
filing this report.
Also, attempts to get the reaction of the
Nigeria Immigration Service did not succeed
as calls to the phone of its spokesman,
Emeka Obua, did not get through.
The spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Ahmedu Ogbole-Ode, said he was on
vacation and could not comment on the
alleged involvement of the Federal
Government in the saga.
But there were indications that the arms deal
and seizure of $9.3m by the South African
authorities, were being handled by the office
of the National Security Adviser.
A source said, “No government official can
comment on the issue for now, but the NSA
has been reaching out to the South African
government on the matter; it is a
government-to-government thing and it is
being handled diplomatically.”
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Civil Aviation
Authority may sanction the pilot and the
cabin crew members of the private jet
impounded by the South African authority
over the
A spokesperson with the NCAA, Mr. Sam
Adurogboye, who confirmed this to one of our
correspondents on Tuesday, said that the
regulator did not take issues of money
laundering lightly.
Source: http://www.punchng.com/news/fg-aware-of-9-3m-cash-investigations/