The Federal Government accepted responsibility for the $5.7million allegedly meant for the purchase of arms that was seized by the South African government.
The $5.7m seized is coming barely three weeks after $9.3million dollars was seized by South Africa from two Nigerians and one Isreali who had allegedly entered the country to buy arms on behalf of the Nigerian government.
The government while claiming ownership of the second cash seized, however denied any wrongdoing in the deal.
According to the National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki who spoke through his media aide, Karounwi Adekunle, there was a genuine business transaction between both countries and nothing was wrong with the transaction hence it was wrong for the South African government to confiscate the said money.
“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 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?”, Adekunle asked.
“It is our hope that South Africa would reciprocate this noble gesture”, he added.
The City Press of South Africa had reported Monday quoting its sister paper, Rapport, that the $5.7million was seized by The Asset Forfeiture Unit of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) though it bore the imprimatur of senior security officials from Nigeria.
According to the report from South Africa, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd) personally issued the end-user certificate for the arms the money was meant to buy.
An entire “shopping list” was supplied with the certificate, which included everything from helicopters to unmanned aircraft, rockets and ammunition.
This brings to $15million the total cash seized from Nigeria by South Africa in the last one month.
Stay updated with Abusidiqu.com, in partnership with NIGERIANEWSBEAT. Follow us on TWITTER or be our fan on FACEBOOK
Do not hesitate to leave your opinion in the comment section below.
To contact Abusidiqu.com for Article Submission and Advertisement or General inquiry, send a mail to info@abusidiqu.com
