FG defends $9.3m cash seized in SA, releases data on transaction
The Federal Government of Nigeria has defended the money seized from her delegate at
lanseria airport in Johannesburg and has opened diplomatic channels in recovering the cash. The Nigerian Government claimed the money was meant for the procurement of arms and light weapons in the war against terrorism.
The private jet has also been released and back in Lagos now. Read Government position on the cash below.
"Nigeria and South Africa are getting closer to diplomatic resolution of the row over the $9.3m transaction. The two nations have opened discussions. The Federal Government has submitted relevant data and documents on the transaction to South Africa and insisted that the transaction was legitimate. It also clarified that the funds were neither laundered nor smuggled for any covert manoeuvres. No launderer will be audacious to fly into a country in a chartered jet with such huge cash. The technical details on security matters, which necessitated the deal had been availed South Africa for screening. Based on initial scrutiny of the documents, the Challenger Jet has been released pending conclusion of a full-scale investigation by South Africa. There was procedural error at the airport, the team did not declare the $9.3million contrary to the aviation and Customs laws of South Africa. So, there was an oversight on the part of the delegation that went to complete the transaction. Nigeria is trying to complete the formality and we are confident that the cash will be released for the purpose it was meant for. Movement of cash for strategic purchase of security equipment by intelligence services is not new; it is a global trend. The FBI, KGB, MOSSAD and others do it.” the source said
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