FG aware of $9.3m cash –Investigations 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.
Posted on: Wed, 17 Sep 2014 02:49:23 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015