As Nigerians express anger over the seizure of the country’s $5.7 million arms
funds, barely three weeks after the confiscation of $9.3 million also
meant for a similar deal, the Federal Government has warned South Africa
not to do anything that will jeopardize security and put its investment
in Nigeria at risk.The Nigerian government through a bank wired the
seized US$5.7 million to an arms dealer in South Africa. 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.
In the case of the first
seizure of the $9.3 million, South Africa said the transaction violated
its laws on movement of cash. But in a terse reaction to what appears a
potential diplomatic spat between the two countries, the Federal
Government denied the second transaction was illegal and reminded South
Africa of how Nigeria had provided a beneficial environment for South
African companies, like MTN, DSTV and a host of others to do business
unhindered.
An online publication, Premium Times quoted the
National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki as saying late Monday: “It is
our hope that South Africa would reciprocate this noble gesture,” with a
vow to eradicate Boko Haram regardless of the antics of “fifth
columnists”.
According to Premium Times, Dasuki, named by the
South African newspaper as the official who signed off the first
controversial deal, confirmed that 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 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 allegedly attempted to smuggle
US$9.3 million through Lanseria International Airport, Johannesburg in a
private jet from Abuja on September 5.
The money, reportedly
stashed in three suitcases, raised suspicion when the passengers’
luggage was 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. 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
Dasuki 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 allegedly
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.
The statement from Dasuki’s office confirmed the inability of the South African company to deliver and the attempt to refund.
According to City Press, “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 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 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,” Mncube was quoted as saying.
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