Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor
The Nigerian authorities started diplomatic talks with South African authorities regarding the seizure of $9.3m allegedly illegally imported to the country on a private jet.
It would be recalled that two Nigerians and and Israeli arrived weekend in a private aircraft with the said sum of money packed in several suitcases.
The cash imported against procedure was reportedly aimed at buying arms for the Nigerian security, the 3 passengers said.
According to Vanguard, the Federal Government (FG) spoke in defence of the deal insisting it was legal and not arms smuggling, as alleged.
It was also found out yesterday that the jet belonged to the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, who leased the Challenger to Green Coast Produce Limited since August 2 and thus denied any knowledge of the deal.
Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor
It was gathered that following the provision of proof, which the South African authorities found convincing, the jet might have been released to the Nigerian government pending the conclusion of the investigation.
The report says that the diplomatic talks involved not only governmental officials but also intelligence services representatives, with important security information attached in support of the deal legality.
The South African colleagues however criticized “non-declaration” of the money by the Nigerian delegation. It would be recalled that it was one of the reason why the cash was seized: the procedure of importation of the said amount violated the applicable law.
Vanguard source commented on the development saying:
“The Federal Government has submitted relevant data and documents on the transaction to South Africa and insisted that the transaction was legitimate. It also clarified that the funds were neither laundered nor smuggled for any covert manoeuvres. No launderer will be audacious to fly into a country in a chartered jet with such huge cash… Based on initial scrutiny of the documents, the Challenger Jet has been released pending conclusion of a full-scale investigation by South Africa.”
The source characterized the procedural error, specifically failure to declare the money, as an “oversight” by the Nigerian delegation adding:
“Nigeria is trying to complete the formality and we are confident that the cash will be released for the purpose it was meant for. Movement of cash for strategic purchase of security equipment by intelligence services is not new; it is a global trend. The FBI, KGB, MOSSAD and others do it.”
The report says that the diplomatic talks involved not only governmental officials but also intelligence services representatives, with important security information attached in support of the deal legality.
The South African colleagues however criticized “non-declaration” of the money by the Nigerian delegation. It would be recalled that it was one of the reason why the cash was seized: the procedure of importation of the said amount violated the applicable law.
Vanguard source commented on the development saying:
“The Federal Government has submitted relevant data and documents on the transaction to South Africa and insisted that the transaction was legitimate. It also clarified that the funds were neither laundered nor smuggled for any covert manoeuvres. No launderer will be audacious to fly into a country in a chartered jet with such huge cash… Based on initial scrutiny of the documents, the Challenger Jet has been released pending conclusion of a full-scale investigation by South Africa.”
The source characterized the procedural error, specifically failure to declare the money, as an “oversight” by the Nigerian delegation adding:
“Nigeria is trying to complete the formality and we are confident that the cash will be released for the purpose it was meant for. Movement of cash for strategic purchase of security equipment by intelligence services is not new; it is a global trend. The FBI, KGB, MOSSAD and others do it.”
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