Vunderkind
Social Member
Twice, in less than a month, Nigeria has been at the centre of embarrassing cash-for-arms deals in South Africa, raising tough questions and intense controversies that have strained relations between the two leading African nations. On September 5, the Asset Forfeiture Unit of the National Prosecuting Authority in South Africa seized $9.3 million cash flown into the country from Nigeria in a private jet.
The cash that was reportedly meant for arms purchase was allegedly transported into South Africa by two Nigerian officials and an Israeli national. But, while the dust raised by the transaction was yet to settle, news broke of yet another seizure of $5.7m (about N952m) belonging to Nigeria, by South African authorities. The government of South Africa has said that the two transactions are illegal, and the relevant authorities in the country have since obtained a court order to seize the monies involved in the two unrelated incidents. South Africa has also initiated criminal investigations into the two transactions.
However, the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) in Nigeria, headed by Col. Sambo Dasuki, has categorically stated that the two transactions were legal, particularly the latest one involving $5.7 million. Documents available to the authorities in South Africa show that the consignments for the $5.7m were signed off by the NSA who issued the end-user certificate for the transaction before it was aborted. The interpretation of the end-user certificate is that it was a legitimate transaction, contrary to the claim by the South African authorities.
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Source: #SunNewsOnline
The cash that was reportedly meant for arms purchase was allegedly transported into South Africa by two Nigerian officials and an Israeli national. But, while the dust raised by the transaction was yet to settle, news broke of yet another seizure of $5.7m (about N952m) belonging to Nigeria, by South African authorities. The government of South Africa has said that the two transactions are illegal, and the relevant authorities in the country have since obtained a court order to seize the monies involved in the two unrelated incidents. South Africa has also initiated criminal investigations into the two transactions.
However, the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) in Nigeria, headed by Col. Sambo Dasuki, has categorically stated that the two transactions were legal, particularly the latest one involving $5.7 million. Documents available to the authorities in South Africa show that the consignments for the $5.7m were signed off by the NSA who issued the end-user certificate for the transaction before it was aborted. The interpretation of the end-user certificate is that it was a legitimate transaction, contrary to the claim by the South African authorities.
Click here to read more
Source: #SunNewsOnline