Nigeria ran the risk of being tagged a banana republic after a total sum of $15 million found its way onto South African shores in an illicit, truncated arms deal.
Two Nigerians and an Israeli called Eyal Mesika, came under investigations in that country after attempts to smuggle US$9.3 million apparently meant for buying arms for the Nigerian intelligence service on their first mission was bungled.
According to reports, the suspected runners landed on the 5th of September at Lanseria International Airport, Johannesburg, in a private jet which took off from Abuja with the money stashed in black suitcases.
The cash, which was arranged in blocks of 90 with each containing US$100,000, was transported in a private jet belonging to the popular clergyman, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, a well-known confidant and consort of President Goodluck Jonathan. He doubles as the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the country’s apex Christian body.
Less than three weeks later, the same South African authority confiscated yet another sum of US$5.7 million in arms money bundled into its country from Nigeria.
While the country reeled in confusion from the news, a source close to the Presidency told BD SUNDAY that purchasing war machinery from that country was a norm.
“Historically, for the last 30 years, South Africa is known as the international headquarters of mercenaries. Anybody who wants mercenaries for any war goes to South Africa to recruit them because the arms market flourishes there. As a result, international mercenaries from all over the world relocate to that country and operate a black market; this is common knowledge and everybody knows this,” the source said.
A curious twist in the tale further exposed the involvement of a nebulous organisation called the Tier One Services Group, which is not authorised to sell or rent military hardware. Yet, the Nigerian government thought it wise to publicly claim that it had partnered with this firm in procuring machinery in furtherance of the raging war with the northern extremist sect Boko Haram.
As accusations are thrown back and forth, reports have it that the case of the missing funds may just have been programmed to die a natural death.
The source who serves on a Presidential committee revealed that, “When the matter was mentioned on the floor of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, the Deputy Speaker of the House immediately grabbed a sachet of cigarettes and stated that the matter would not be discussed. Since then nobody has spoken about that matter on the floor of the House.”
However, in a bid to ensure that the huge resources being invested in the fight against insurgency is not misapplied, the Senate had invited Air Marshal Alex Badeh, chief of defence staff; Kenneth Minimah, a Lt-General and chief of Army staff; Vice-Admiral Usman Jibrin, chief of Naval Staff; Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, chief of Air Staff; Suleiman Abba, the Inspector General of Police, as well as Ekpenyong Nsah, director, Department of State Service (DSS), for a meeting last Thursday.
The meeting was called to ask the service chiefs to give account of the huge amount of money earmarked to fight insurgency and how such money was expended.
Thompson Sekibo, chairman, Senate Committee on Defence, apparently dumping the blame at the doorsteps of the military chiefs, said: “I know as a Senate that we have done whatever we need to do to support the Armed Forces to combat the battle and bring insurgents to their knees. I also believe that virtually all the directives the Senate has passed on to the President, he has also honoured them, including the recent $1 billion loan that was requested for.
“I believe that in addition to the $1 billion through the Office of the National Security Adviser, they will also be providing funds for the purchase of military equipment, but for us to wake up and hear that we are being overrun in some areas is embarrassing.”
Sekibo further said: “The elections are coming so fast in the next few weeks. People are going for primaries and we are worried whether our colleagues in the North-East can go for primaries. Where will they start from? I believe that after the meeting, some of these questions will be answered.
“Between the last declaration of state of emergency till now, the President, heeding the voice of National Assembly, has procured some equipment and … we want to have an inventory of equipment we have on ground.
However, as speculations arise, many more questions are left unanswered such as; Why would a country of Nigeria’s status seek to purchase arms from dark alleys and corner markets patronised by terrorists and hoodlums in South Africa when other arm selling nations could have been approached even after the United States refused to sell? And why would government use a private jet owned by the ‘man of God’?
The Presidency, shrouded in secrecy, is yet to speak up on the matter.
Okupe’s hyper-ventilations…FG vindicates Oritsejafor, Dokubo
Widespread shock and anger were emotions expressed by Nigerians as news disclosing the ownership of the missionary private jet fingered Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor as owner.
Another former militant, Asari Dokubo, whose active participation in the emancipation of the Niger Delta brought him fame and fortune, was also indicted in the illegal scheme.
In his defense, Oritsejafor, insisted that the plane had been leased to an unknown party without his prior knowledge and as such refused to be associated with the saga.
Leveraging on the belief system of a religious society, he emphasised his innocence saying, “I want to assure you that I will not do anything to tarnish the image of Jesus Christ or compromise the divine standard of the church.”
In like manner, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan, Doyin Okukpe a former medical practitioner, who prides himself as a presidential spokesman who engages in public verbal thuggery with anyone opposing the stance of the President on an issue; but in equal measure fawns over the said personality with uninhibited praise, ran to the Pastor’s aid with gargantuan statements.
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Okupe said: “The linking of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor is the most unfortunate thing; to put the very respectable, responsible, honest and sincere President of CAN in this matter is the extreme of mischief. It just shows you what Nigerians do; they go to any extent to politicise everything and every day. What bothers me here is the manner with people who want to bring down Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor on this matter. It is pure absurdity.”
Dokubo whose name was not found on the planes manifest refused to issue any major public speech addressing the matter.
Hinged on the degree of closeness between the clergy man, the ex-militant and the Presidency, a closet panel was rapidly formed by government forces and the names of both accused parties were cleared of any involvement in the $9.3 million arms’ deal.
And with the clearing of their names, the case concerning the botched arms deal appears to have fizzled to thin air as a motion moved by a member of the House of Representatives seeking to probe the scandal was squashed.
Discarding any allusions to wrong doing, Okupe in usual fashion, further stated that no ill had been committed by the government as the second controversial deal had legitimised the first because it was a normal transaction involving a payment and refund.
According to him, “A company was mandated to do a national security assignment for the Federal Government of Nigeria and because of the extant laws in South Africa, that company was unable to deliver its contractual agreement with the Nigerian government; the company now wants a refund which is normal.”
Rita Ohai
