Nigeria responded with fury Monday after South African authorities confiscated a second tranche of funds meant for
arms purchase to fight the extremist Boko Haram sect, denying the deal was unlawful and warning South Africa of its
investment in Nigeria.
The warning came after the South African government seized US$5.7 million wired by the Nigerian government through
a bank to an arms dealer in that country.
South Africa’s Asset Forfeiture Unit of the National Prosecuting Authority said the money, about N952 million, was the
proceed of illegal transactions, according to local paper, City Press.
The seizure was the second in nearly three weeks, coming after authorities there froze $9.3 million transported in cash
by two Nigerians and an Israeli for arms purchase. At the time, South Africa said the transaction violated its laws on
movement of cash.
In a terse reaction to what appears a potential diplomatic spat between the two countries, the Nigerian government
denied the second transaction was illegal and reminded South Africa of how Nigeria has provided a beneficial
environment for South African companies like MTN, DSTV and a host of others to do business unhindered.
“It is our hope that South Africa would reciprocate this noble gesture,” the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, said
Monday, with a vow to eradicate Boko Haram regardless of the antics of “fifth columnists”.
Mr. Dasuki, named by the South African newspaper as the official who signed off the first controversial deal, confirmed
late Monday the second transaction occurred as reported but firmly denied it was conducted illegally.
“We want to state clearly that a business transaction actually took place between a legitimate company in Nigeria and
another legitimate one in South Africa through the bank,” said Mr. Dasuki through a spokesperson, Karounwi Adekunle.
“In the course of events, the South African company could not perform and decided to refund the money. What is
illegitimate in this transaction done through the bank?” he queried.
Details of the latest transaction came more than two weeks after two Nigerians and an Israeli were arrested as they
attempted to smuggle US$9.3 million through Lanseria International Airport, Johannesburg, on September 5 in a private
jet from Abuja.
The money, stashed in three suitcases, raised suspicion 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 angered Nigerians, particularly as it became clear 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.
South African paper, City Press, said it was the NSA, Mr. Dasuki, who personally authorised the first arms contract by
issuing an end-user certificate, alongside a “shopping list” for helicopters, unmanned aircraft, rockets and ammunition.
But Nigerian security officials said the report by the newspaper indeed provided proof that the first transaction was not
illegitimate as well, since the end-user certificate and a shopping list were provided.
A security source was quoted as saying “in issuing end-user certificate, the ONSA (Office of the National Security
Adviser) ensures that it carries all relevant agencies and stakeholders along. Therefore, such a responsibility is not a
unilateral development,” according to PRNigeria, an agency frequently used by the Nigerian military to disseminate
official statements.
“For security reasons, the chains leading to the issuance of end-user certificate cannot be put in the public domain.
“The recent interest in arms purchase was informed by the challenges of insurgency which our nation had been
grappling with in the last few years. This is why the understanding of all Nigerians is necessary.
“Nigeria is desperate to counter activities of terrorists no matter what it takes even when some of our friends are not
being fair to us,” the agency said Monday.
The latest transaction 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)
through its account at Standard Bank, tried to repay the money as 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.
The statement from Mr. Dasuki’s office confirmed the inability of the South African company to deliver and the attempt to refund

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/169132-nigeria-talks-tough-warns-south-africa-over-seized-5-7-million-arms-money.html

south africa...a country nigeria helped to liberate from the white shackles...na wao

Is it so hard to buy arms? Why can't we investigate the arms' company's registrations details before sending the money? Why are we so bent on apearing shady?

Hmmm...

See as i dey confuse...who is d lier?

i hear talks tough

is dt action?
SA seized money n dt action not talks

Okay o

south Africa should stop acting like US and Russia. help a brother in need of arms to tackle this rodents called boko haram.

Korrection:
south africa...a country nigeria helped to liberate from the white shackles...na wao

How did we do that, like most other countries we gave moral/financial support, the real blood and sweat was done by south African themselves.
Our support for them then is not an alley way for laundry money.

S.A

oderemo:

How did we do that, like most other countries we gave moral/financial support, the real blood and sweat was done by south African themselves.
Our support for them then is not an alley way for laundry money.

You dey mind some pipul?

well as usual i expect to see ignorant comments who know nothing about arms talkless of trade sef.

Sometimes i just laugh at our leaders poor leadership guts.

This our fg too stupid I swear! They think say Nigerians no get sense...na d first time Naija dey [s]steal money go hide for foreign country be this[/s] buy arms like that be this? why all these blunders now? I feel this second case is a set up by fg to garner Nigerians support againts S.A and cover the first shameful incident.

Nigeria should South Africa alone and do the proper thing. We live in a lawless country so we don't expect other countries to be as lawless as we live here in Nigeria. Must Nigerian Govt go to south Africa to purchase arms? There several American and European countries to buy Arms from. This money is being laundered as usual. Nigerian govt knows most European countries will not accept this kind of shady business dealings from them and thay is why they are bent on using south Africa if actually that money was meant for arms purchase.

Nigerdeltaboi:
well as usual i expect to see ignorant comments who know nothing about arms talkless of trade sef.

Chief arms dealer, the floor is yours.

oderemo:

Chief arms dealer, the floor is yours.

i nor dey sell arms ooooooo

an inept fg who's incompetence extends to corruption. If the fg couldn't even steal money wisely, do u expect such to be wise in running the affairs of the country. This is the most mediocre of all fg.
This is just a case of money laundering and nothing more. The arms deal talk is just and excuse.

Since when has south africa become "efcc" freezing billions. These monies where meant for the purchase of military equipment plus an invoice was provided to show it was all legit.so y the bad blood..

F should pounce on their assets in this country too...

In the voice of a nairalander "what eva is sauce for the uganda,is good for the peru"

On a second thought, y must we always wire money thru south africa

Since when has south africa become "efcc" freezing our billions.
On a second thought, y must we always wire money thru south africa

In...... U no d rest.

I never knew South Africa manufacture arms and ammunition. And some people will say "Nigeria is the giant of Africa". How can a country be termed giant when all she does is consume and consume ad infinitum.

I guess is true then: "an average Nigerian man is in between a white slowpoke and a chimpanzee".

We helped liberate South Africa of Apartheid. Our musicians churned out millions of albums singing against the evil of apartheid. Now South Africa is free. We even allow their businesses fair climate to operate. SA responded by killing Nigerians in zenophobic attacks, we tolerated. Now, as soon as we overtake this SA as African Economic Power, they display their greatest actions to make sure that we do not defeat Boko Haram. A lot of countries dont like Nigeria I guess.

For those who are ignorant of arms deals. Most countries use Black OPs to have access to weapons. America stopped Israeli company from selling arms to us, now a fellow African country is frustrating us again. LOL. I suspect these countries are indirect sponsors of terrorism in Nigeria.

What I know in life is, Gravity can be countered with just great enough energy called Escape Velocity. With just enough energy, we will surmount Terrorism, revamp our economy, stabilize energy and soar. If you doubt me, ask Mrs Ebola.

United We Stand.

Billyonaire:
We helped liberate South Africa of Apartheid. Our musicians churned out millions of albums singing against the evil of apartheid. Now South Africa is free. We even allow their businesses fair climate to operate. SA responded by killing Nigerians in zenophobic attacks, we tolerated. Now, as soon as we overtake this SA as African Economic Power, they display their greatest actions to make sure that we do not defeat Boko Haram. A lot of countries dont like Nigeria I guess.

For those who are ignorant of arms deals. Most countries use Black OPs to have access to weapons. America stopped Israeli company from selling arms to us, now a fellow African country is frustrating us again. LOL. I suspect these countries are indirect sponsors of terrorism in Nigeria.

What I know in life is, Gravity can be countered with just great enough energy called Escape Velocity. With just enough energy, we will surmount Terrorism, revamp our economy, stabilize energy and soar. If you doubt me, ask Mrs Ebola.

United We Stand.

God bless you


#InvolveOurHigherInstitutionsInWeaponsDevelopmentAsDICONmassProduce

Nigeria needs to invest in and upgrade DICON Kaduna to produce bigger and better arms than they are currently doing.Although long term but we
would eventually depend less on the international market for every type of weapons.

Let us for one moment accept this was a routine and legitimate arms deal.

What would have been our opinion of South Africa if the arms had fallen into the hands of the terrorists say ? After all it could have been an arrangement of some unscrupulous elements.

Also, at what point is the cargo of 9.3 million US dollars into a separate sovereign nation unaccompanied by officials of state, without proper paperwork, considered an act of money laundry?

Th

NIgeria has already provided evidence which indicates that the Nigerian govt communicated with South African govt before the transaction happened, what I don;t understand is why South Africa is hell bent on insulting Nigerians and degrading our international image.. maybe it has something to do with Nigeria now being Africa's economic power house. Methinks Nigeria should reciprocate by nationalizing all South African companies in Nigeria and severing all political and diplomatic ties with that useless ingrate of a country called South Africa.