As controversy over the seizure of $9.3 million arms cash belonging to Nigerian government by South African government rages unabated, another $5.7 million purportedly meant for yet another arms purchase has been confiscated from Nigeria, report says on Monday.
The money was seized by the country’s Asset Forfeiture Unit of the National Prosecuting Authority.
The cash, according to the report was for yet another arms deal between the two countries.
Earlier, three weeks ago, $9.3 million cash was seized from two Nigerians and an Israeli at Lanseria Airport, north of Johannesburg, went the trio arrived the country in a private jet belonging to the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.
The money was not disclosed as required by law and was therefore confiscated as illegal money.
The Nigerian senate has commenced investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deal.
The federal authority in Nigeria had owned up to the arms deal saying the seized money belonged to the federal government.
City Press’ sister paper Rapport gathered that the department for offences against the state in the Special Investigating Unit is also involved.
Documents in the newspaper’s possession show that the earlier consignment was approved by the Nigerian government – with the country national security adviser personally issuing 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.
Sources close to the investigation said the latest transaction was between Cerberus Risk Solutions, an arms broker in Cape Town, and Societe D’Equipments Internationaux, a Nigerian company in Abuja.
This company, according to an impeccable source, paid the R60m into Cerberus’ account at Standard Bank.
Cerberus was previously registered as a broker with the National Conventional Arms Control Committee, but the registration expired in May this year. The marketing and contracting permits also expired at the same time, media report said.
with additional reports from African Examiner
