Federal Government over an alleged illegal arms deal, the South
African authorities have seized another $5.7m arms money from Nigeria.
Last month, two Nigerians and an Israeli were arrested at Lanseria
International Airport, Johannesburg, after they attempted to smuggle
$9.3m to South Africa which the Federal Government described as a
legitimate business deal to purchase arms for the Nigerian
intelligence services.
This is just as a statement by PR Nigeria on behalf of the Nigerian
government said the report by the South African newspaper, City Press
on the latest transaction has vindicated the Federal Government's
official position that the deal was legitimate.
Despite explanations by Nigeria, the Asset Forfeiture Unit of the
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) of South Africa obtained a court
order to freeze the money for allegedly being the proceeds of illegal
transactions.
The latest transaction, according to a South African newspaper,City
Presswas between Cerberus Risk Solutions, an arms broker in Cape Town,
and Societe D'Equipments Internationaux, a Nigerian company in Abuja.
The paper reported that the deal fell apart after Cerberus which had
earlier received R60 million (N1.02 billion) from Nigeria in its
account at Standard Bank, attempted to pay back the money because it
could not resolve its registration formalities with the South African
authorities.
According to the paper, Cerberus was previously registered as a broker
with the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC), but the
registration expired in May this year. The marketing and contracting
permits also expired at the same time. The company was said to have
since applied for re-registration, but the application was yet to be
granted and had been in the NCACC's mailbox for more than two months.
Following attempts by Cerberus to pay the money back to the Nigerian
company, the bank became suspicious. The NPA's Asset Forfeiture Unit
subsequently obtained a court order in the South Gauteng High Court to
seize the money. Cerberus' attorney, Martin Hood, was said to have
declined to comment on the matter.
In the first arms deal, the two Nigerians and the Israeli national,
Eyal Mesika were arrested after they failed to declare two black
plastic suitcases, filled with 90 blocks each containing US$100,000 in
notes, with combination locks, as well as two pieces of hand luggage
also containing US currency, according toCity Press. The Israeli, Eyal
Mesika, had the combination to open the locks. The men landed at
Lanseria International Airport, Johannesburg, on September 5 in a
private jet from Abuja.
At the time, the South Africa Revenue Service, SARS, said Customs
officers became suspicious 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.
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 Nigerian government later admitted it was
behind the deal meant to purchase arms with which to fight Boko Haram.
The South African paper said documents in its possession show that the
first consignment was personally signed off by the National Security
Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, who issued the end-user certificate for the
transaction.
An entire "shopping list" was supplied with the certificate, which
included everything from helicopters to unmanned aircraft, rockets and
ammunition, it said.
NPA spokesperson Nathi Ncube said there were no indications that the
two transactions were related, adding that, "both are now the subject
of a criminal investigation and all possible information and
connections are being investigated".
South Africa frustrating Nigeria
Meanwhile, the Federal Government as well as top officers of security
agencies in the country were worried about the increasing trend by
South African authorities to frustrate efforts by Nigeria to acquire
weaponry and equipment needed to contain the deadly Boko Haram
terrorism in North Eastern Nigeria.
This concern came as South African media have published documents
confirming the legitimacy of the $9. 3million botched arms deals
between Nigeria and the former apartheid enclave.
According to sources, government is particularly concerned that South
Africa has remained recalcitrant even after authoritative sources
confirmed that there were official communications at the top level of
the two governments and the South African media have published
documents confirming the legitimacy of the botched arms deals.
No comments:
Post a Comment