South Africa Bust Another Nigerian Arms Deal, Seizes $5.7m

Barely three weeks after South African authorities seized a private jet in Johannesburg which transported $9.3million in cash packed in several suitcases for arms purchase, they have yet again confiscated another US$5.7 million arms deal money from Nigeria, South Africa-based City Express reports.

According to the report, the $5.7 million (about N952 million), alleged to be proceeds of illegal transactions, was seized by the South Africa’s Asset Forfeiture Unit of the National Prosecuting Authority.

The transaction was said to be between Cerberus Risk Solutions, an arms broker in Cape Town, and Societe D’Equipments Internationaux, a Nigerian company based in Abuja.

However, the deal fell apart after Cerberus which had earlier received R60 million (N1.02 billion) from Nigeria in its account at Standard Bank, tried to repay the money as it could not resolve its registration formalities with the South African authorities.

The bank became suspicious after Cerberus tried to pay the money back to the Nigerian company.

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The report said the NPA’s Asset Forfeiture Unit subsequently obtained a court order in the South Gauteng High Court to seize the money but the NPA spokesperson Nathi Mncube, said there were no indications the two transactions (the first deal of $9.3million and the latest) were related.

Mr. Mncube was quoted as saying: “However, both are now the subject of a criminal investigation and all possible information and connections are being investigated.”

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.

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The news of the first transaction was trailed by controversy in Nigeria as the Nigerian government claimed it was behind the arms deal and had acted out of desperation for arms to defeat Boko Haram.

After it emerged that the private jet involved belonged to the head of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Ayo Ortisejafor, the clergy man came under serious attack and criticism.

Responding to reports that the private jet belonged to him, Oritsejafor, who is a close ally of President Goodluck Jonathan, said the plane had been leased to a third party and he could not be blamed for its schedules.

Source: Legit.ng