Arms Smuggling Jet Caught With $10million In South Africa Linked To CAN President, Ayo Oritsejafor

An investigation by SaharaReporters has revealed that a Nigerian
private jet caught in Johannesburg with $10 million belongs to Pastor
Ayo Oritsejafor, the head of the Christian Association of Nigeria
(CAN). Mr. Oritsejafor is also a close confidant of President Goodluck
Jonathan.Ayo Oritsejafor

The CAN leader's private plane with US registration number N808HG was
one of two jets cited by South African officials on September 5 Mr.
Oritsejafor's jet arrived South Africa with $9.3 million cash loaded
in several suitcases. News of the seizure of the cash broke over the
weekend, triggering questions about the ownership of the jets and
weapons they intended to purchase.

Nigerian aviation authorities disclosed that one of the jets belonged
to Pastor Oritsejafor while the second one was registered to Felix
Idiga, the owner of Jafac Aviation Limited.

Two Nigerians and an Israeli defense contractor, Eyal Mesiaka arrived
in the jet when they were accosted in South Africa authorities. A
South African source disclosed that Mr. Oritsejafor's jet was released
after top Nigerian officials intervened, claiming that the weapons to
be purchased had the official blessing of the Nigerian government. The
jet arrived with two plastic suitcases and two hand luggages with
combination locks only known to the Isreali contractor, according to
CityPress

Earlier today, SaharaReporters rang the mobile telephone number of Mr.
Idiga. At first, he pretended and claimed that he was the Aide De camp
to Mr. Idiga. But when our correspondent identified himself as a
reporter from SaharaReporters, he owned he started answering questions
relating to the issues but claimed the jet we published on our site
wasn't his own. Asked if he knew of another private jet named in
apparent arms buy in South Africa, he asked where we got our
information after we read the jet registration number to him. He then
denied that his jet was involved, before hastily hanging up the phone.
Challenger 600 private jet with registration number N808HGFlightaware

We were unable to reach Pastor Oritsejafor before going to press.

--SaharaReporters